Pakistani Exporters Aim to Earn $110 Million from Kinnow Exports This Season

Pakistan’s citrus exporters have set a kinnow export target of 300,000 tonnes for the current season, a goal that is expected to generate $110 million in foreign exchange, according to the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association. The new target follows last season’s export volume of 250,000 tonnes, which earned Pakistan about $95 million. Exporters believe earnings could reach $400 million within five years if new citrus varieties are introduced and supply chain efficiency improves. Exports for the ongoing season have already begun, with 6,000 tonnes shipped since December 1 to markets in the Middle East, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Association Patron in Chief Waheed Ahmed said a bumper kinnow crop is expected this year, with total production estimated at 2.7 million tonnes, compared to 1.7 million tonnes last season. Despite higher production, he noted that current export volumes remain nearly 50 percent lower than the 550,000 tonnes exported five years ago. Ahmed cited limited research and development and reliance on older citrus varieties as key factors behind the decline. Horticulture expert Dr. Aasia Akbar Panhwar told Business Recorder that farmers can adopt three to five new citrus varieties, such as seedless kinnow, kinnow gold, kinnow late, mandarin nova and mandarin clementine. She said improved nursery material introduced through the Australia-Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program can help growers gradually shift to climate-resilient, export-friendly varieties. She added that modern packing houses, cold treatment and compliance with international food safety standards can significantly boost global acceptance. Strengthening research, finding new markets and improving supply chain efficiency are essential for lifting kinnow export earnings toward the $400 million target. Ahmed said exporters have presented short, medium and long-term plans to the government, emphasizing the need to acquire new citrus varieties from Egypt, the United States, Morocco and China. He stressed that Pakistan must prioritise low water-consuming fruits like lemon, grapefruit, orange and mandarin, which face strong demand globally. He noted that the suspension of trade with Afghanistan has made exports to Central Asia and Russia more difficult, forcing exporters to use the longer and costlier route through Iran, where freight charges have risen by up to 100 percent at the start of the season. He called for a national-level strategy to support kinnow exports, upgrade research and development and promote efficient irrigation methods to address rising water scarcity.