China Fresh Mango insights

Recently, customs updated the announcement regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the import of Ecuadorian mangoes. Ecuadorian mangoes gained access to the Chinese market as early as the end of 2016, primarily entering China via air transport. Ecuador began cultivating mangoes in the 1980s, with the majority of its mango production intended for export. The mango production season starts in mid to late September, with medium-level production in October, and peaks in November and December. October is a gap period for both domestic and imported mangoes, during which Ecuadorian mangoes have a certain advantage. Subsequently, large shipments of Peruvian and Australian mangoes arrive, causing Ecuadorian mango prices to drop. Despite the limited market space, Ecuadorian fruits began to enjoy zero tariff treatment last year. According to the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement, which officially came into effect on May 1, 2024, the tariffs on multiple Ecuadorian fruits and vegetables will be directly or gradually reduced to 0%, including bananas, mangoes, yellow and red pitayas, which have already been granted customs approval. The announcement shows that before packaging, Ecuadorian mangoes entering China must undergo selection, brushing, and pesticide soaking to remove diseased fruits, pests, and impurities, ensuring that the mangoes do not carry quarantine pests of concern to China, as well as insects, mites, diseased fruits, soft-bodied animals, plant residues, and soil. Mangoes that have been heat-treated and packaged should be stored in clean, sanitary, pest-proof cold storage rooms to avoid re-infection by harmful organisms. The water temperature for the heat treatment of Ecuadorian mangoes entering China must be 46.1°C or above, with the treatment time starting 5 minutes after the water temperature reaches 46.1°C. The fruit must be submerged below the water surface by 10.2 centimeters. The duration of the treatment depends on the weight of the fruit: fruits weighing less than 500 grams must be treated for at least 75 minutes; fruits weighing between 500 grams and 650 grams must be treated for at least 90 minutes; and fruits weighing more than 650 grams must be treated for at least 110 minutes. If the fruit needs to be water-cooled after heat treatment, the heat treatment time should be extended by 10 minutes, and the mangoes must be placed at room temperature for 30 minutes, with the cooling water temperature not falling below 21.1°C. Image source: MZMC2025 International Fruit and Vegetable Report. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, please contact the International Fruit and Vegetable Report and credit the source.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance noted that compared to the same period in 2024, the supply volume increased by 30%. The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance stated that all products successfully passed the phytosanitary inspection and fully comply with Russia's phytosanitary requirements. China also supplies various vegetables to the Amur region. Among the goods imported from China to the Amur region, vehicles, equipment and instruments, metals, and metal products constitute a significant portion.

On the evening of May 28, 3 tons of "Shishir Shomudra" mangoes from Bangladesh successfully arrived at Changsha Huanghua Airport, and were quickly cleared by Changsha Customs that same night. As a geographical indication product of Bangladesh, "Shishir Shomudra" means "Sea of Ice and Snow" in Bengali, with pure and delicate flesh, sugar content reaching 18%-22%, and featuring a unique blend of floral and tropical fruit aromas. This differentiated quality positioning precisely matches the increasingly diverse demands of Chinese consumers. The importer, Hunan Babaili Holdings Group, plans to sell through e-commerce platforms, chain supermarkets, and fresh produce channels, with first-year import volume expected to exceed 100 tons. This season, Bangladesh's mango cultivation area reaches 205,034 hectares, with a target production of 2.7 million tons and planned exports of 5,000 tons, with the Chinese market being a key growth point. Arif ur Rahman, Bangladesh mango production project leader, anticipates that if weather conditions are favorable, exports to China will gradually increase starting from June this year. Meanwhile, Bangladesh faces two major challenges: first, high transportation costs due to geographical distance, which may affect freshness for this perishable product; second, insufficient brand awareness. Previously, its mangoes primarily targeted Middle Eastern and EU markets, with limited acceptance among Chinese consumers. However, through geographical indication certification and differentiated quality positioning, the product hopes to establish itself in the high-end market. The entry of Bangladeshi mangoes significantly alters the already competitive landscape of China's imported mango market, with Southeast Asian countries most immediately impacted. Vietnam, China's largest mango import source, exported 40,700 tons in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for 97% of total imports. However, due to enhanced Chinese inspection and quarantine standards causing longer clearance times, the acquisition price of Ao mangoes in Khanh Hoa Province plummeted from 25,000 Vietnamese dong/kg to less than 5,000 dong/kg. Compounded by weather-related production declines, farmers have suffered severe losses. The "Saint Dragon" mangoes from Myanmar's