Pakistan exports 460,000 tonnes kinnows, sets record

The recent export of the fruit is labelled as the highest export in the history of the country.

Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Patron General Waheed Ahmed said that during the export season ended in April 2021, Pakistan setting a record, exported 460,000 tonnes of Kinnows to 40 countries.

Waheed Ahmed further said that 353,000 tonnes of Kinnows were exported last year marking an increase of 30% this year.

In return, Pakistan received $253 million in foreign exchange this year.

The Patron General of Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association said that this milestone was crossed with the help and timely decisions of the Federal Ministry of Commerce, especially Abdul Razzaq, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Trade.

It should be noted that the demand for Kinnow has increased in the Corona epidemic. The most effective weapon against the virus is the immune system. Experts recommend specific foods and medicines to boost the immune system, the most important of which is cannabis.

Last year, Pakistani exporters set a target of 350,000 tons, though they ultimately sold 370,000 tons and generated $222 million in export revenue for the country.

“The target has been slashed because exporters had to suffer huge financial losses of up to $6 million in the Russian market. Exporters were shy of taking a risk this time and reduced the target by 50,000 tons,” Ahmed said.

The European market would offer a better price for Pakistani kinnow compared to other conventional international markets, if the country’s resumed exports increased by 50 per cent, said the PFVA chief.

Exporters say the country has not introduced new varieties of kinnow for decades and the existing varieties had exhausted. They also point out that other countries had developed many varieties of fruit.