Delay in China Customs clearance affects quality of mango

May 12

 

THE delay resulting from changes in China’s Customs clearance system deteriorates the fruit quality and the price plummets, fruit traders engaged in the Muse trade zone stressed.

 

At present, China has commenced customs duty payment with a 2.0 system for fruit imports via normal trade, causing delays. Therefore, we need to closely observe whether it brings a negative influence on the quality of perishable fruits or not, Sai Khin Maung from the Khwanyo fruit Depot said.

 

“China’s authorities are planning to go with the system exercised in border trade after they ran a system used for sea trade,” Sai Khin Maung elaborated.

 

On 7 May, mango trucks were stuck at the checkpoint on China’s side for two days, according to the Khwanyo Depot.

 

On 9 May, the trade channel was eased. However, it affects mango quality as they have been loaded on the trucks for five days. Consequently, poor quality brings down the prices. The ripe Seintalone mango was priced at 60-100 yuan per 16-kilogramme basket, while fresh ones fetched 100-130 yuan per basket.

 

Last early April, Seintalone touched the highest price of 120- 180 yuan per basket.

 

The transportation and customs procedures play a pivotal role in mango exports to China, Sai Khin Maung continued.

 

The growers are battered by the high cost of cultivation input, harming the market reputation every year. Last year, low use of cultivation input brought down quality, causing postharvest diseases such as stem end rot and black spot in fruit.

 

Some traders did not even cover the cultivation cost due to the inferior quality of Seintalone mango.

 

Of about 200 mango varieties that originated in Myanmar, Seintalone, Shwehintha, Padamyar Ngamauk, Yinkwe, and Machitsu varieties are primarily grown. The foreign market prefers Seintalone varieties.

 

Ayeyawady Region possesses the largest mango plantation acres, having about 46,000 acres. Bago Region is the second-largest producer with 43,000 acres and Mandalay has 29,000 acres of mango. There are over 24,000 acres in Kayin State, over 20,400 acres in Shan State and over 20,000 acres in Sagaing Region, according to the association.— NN/EM