Worldwide Mango Production and Market: Current Situation and Future Prospects

While the number of mango producing countries, around 100, has not varied much over the last decade, growth has been slow but steady with an output of some 33 million tons in 2008. Currently, the leading exporters are Mexico, Brazil, Pakistan, Peru, and India. With the exception of Southeast Asia, where consumer preference is oriented towards taste rather than colour, the Floridian cultivars like 'Tommy Atkins', 'Haden', 'Kent', 'Keitt', and 'Irwin' still dominate the global export market, although the Mexican cultivar 'Ataulfo' is becoming increasingly popular in the US. Prices have remained fairly stable in recent years, except for organic mangoes, which are making headway in international markets, particularly in the USA, EU and Japan. In the absence of important varietal changes or significant new plantings worldwide, improved crop management is most likely the sole factor responsible for production increase, which will probably slow down unless new, higher-yielding cultivars appear and can be extensively planted.