Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) has set the target of kinnow export at 300,000 tonnes this year. The association had exported at least 235,000 tonnes kinnow worth $140 million last year against the fixed target of 200,000 tonnes.According to spokesman of PFVA Waheed Ahmed, export will be started by December 1, 2013. The production of the fruit is expected to be 2100,000 tonnes this year against the previous figure of 1800,000 tonnes. However, the crop is likely to be damaged in some areas which may slightly affect the overall production.
He said that increase in target by 100,000 tonnes this year was mainly made because of an expected jump in exports to Russia and Indonesia. The export figure of 300,000 tonnes may even cross if the lucrative market of Iran is tapped followed by an expected relaxation in banking process after improving relations between Iran and the US.
He said that the country would get at least $180 million revenue if the 300,000 tonnes kinnow export target is achieved this year. Waheed feared the cost of exports was expected to be increased by 15 to 20 percent due to hike in petroleum prices, affecting cost of transportation, logistic, packaging, labour and products. This would also create a stiff competition with rival countries producing the same fruit, in the international market, he added.
It was encouraging that after signing preferential trade agreement with Indonesia, export to the country is expected to witness a jump this year as the foreign country is a market of 40,000 tonnes for Pakistan after Russia and Iran which are markets of 82,000 and 80,000 tonnes respectively.
In case the Iranian market remained closed this year, Pakistan may face losses worth $40 million in terms of revenue. He said that export to Russia would hopefully start by December 8, after removal of the restrictions imposed by Moscow.
