An Indian agricultural official expects the country's mango industry will once again have difficulties to export fruit to Japan this year, website Business-standard.com reported.

The story reported India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) received a letter from Japanese authorities stating they wanted to send supervising inspectors to every single Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) facility; a mandatory treatment against fruit fly.

The pest previously led to a Japanese ban on Indian mangoes in 1986 that wasn't lifted until 2006, however shipments have been small. The Business Standard reported only 67 metric tons (MT) were sent there in 2011-12, while none were shipped at all last year.

"We have asked members to send us details of export houses and farmers, so that the Japanese Quarantine Authority can send their inspectors to assess the VHT facilities," Adepa horticulture deputy manager Vinod Kaul was quoted as saying.

"But we presume the norm is stringent and difficult for Indian exporters to adhere to. Hence, we presume there will be no exports of mango to Japan this year as well."

Technically under a protocol, Japan is willing to accept VHT Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, Chausa or Malika mangoes from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The story reported India's mango export values rose by 26.2% last year to 243 crore (US$39.55 million), even though volumes declined by 12.4%.

The United Arab Emirates is the biggest buyer of Indian mangoes with a value of 163 (US$26.5 million) crore in 2012-13, followed by the U.K. which imported 32.5 crore (US$5.28 million).

Export volume to the U.S. fell by close to a third in 2012-13, but value more than doubled to 5.8 crore (US$942,308). Apeda representatives indicated to the publication that U.S. demands for packhouse inspection (PHC) and handling also created challenges for shipping to that market.

Overall, Indian mango shipments are expected to fall.

www.freshfruitportal.com