A mango costs PKR 30-50 (about $0.10-0.15) in a Pakistani market during peak season. The same mango costs $2-4 in the USA or £2-3 in the UK. Why?
The Cost Breakdown
| Cost Component | Pakistan (domestic) | Export to UAE | Export to UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm gate price | PKR 30-80/kg | PKR 30-80/kg | PKR 30-80/kg |
| Grading & packing | — | PKR 30-50/kg | PKR 40-60/kg |
| Hot water treatment | — | PKR 15-25/kg | PKR 15-25/kg |
| Cold chain storage | — | PKR 20-30/kg | PKR 30-50/kg |
| Transport to port/airport | — | PKR 15-25/kg | PKR 20-30/kg |
| Freight (air/sea) | — | PKR 50-100/kg | PKR 150-300/kg |
| Import duties/taxes | — | 0-5% | 5-15% |
| Importer margin | — | 15-25% | 20-30% |
| Retailer margin | PKR 20-50/kg | 30-50% | 40-60% |
| **Final consumer price** | **PKR 100-400/kg** | **PKR 500-1000/kg** | **PKR 1500-3000/kg** |
Why Each Step Adds Cost
- **Phytosanitary treatment**: Hot water treatment at 48°C for 60 minutes (fruit fly protocol) requires specialized facilities
- **Cold chain**: Mangoes must be kept at 8-12°C from packing to retail — any break ruins the fruit
- **Air freight**: Fresh mangoes for premium markets fly by air at $2-5/kg
- **Perishability**: 10-30% of export mangoes are lost to damage, overripening, or rejection
- **Certification**: Export requires phytosanitary certificates, residue testing, and quality inspections
- **Margins**: Multiple middlemen (exporter, importer, distributor, retailer) each add margin
The Value Proposition
Despite the higher cost, Pakistani mangoes in international markets are still good value:
- A Sindhri at $3 in the UK has 22-24 Brix (sweeter than any local fruit)
- Compare to Japanese strawberries ($10/box) or Chilean cherries ($15/kg) — mangoes are reasonable
- One Sindhri provides an entire dessert portion — no added sugar needed
At MMA Farms, we primarily serve the domestic Pakistani market where our mangoes offer incredible value — premium quality at local prices.
Tags:
mango pricesexpensive fruitmango tradeimport cost
M
MMA Farms
Premium Pakistani mangoes from Multan. 100% carbide-free, farm to table freshness. Follow us on Instagram for orchard updates.