This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

The project, “Optimising mango export and sea freight supply chains” was initiated in 2006 to improve export supply chains and facilitate market growth in Singapore and Hong Kong. This project had been expanded to include new markets particularly those which required disinfestation treatments such as China, New Zealand and Korea and to develop sea freight using controlled atmosphere sea freight.

The project vision was to deliver benefits to collaborators and the wider mango industry that increased the volume and value of exports and enhanced the sustainability of the Australian mango industry. The project goals were:

1. Increase the volume and value of mango exports from Australia.
2. Improve the capacity of mango businesses to achieve sustainable competitive advantage for their mango export chains.
3. Project partners and funders gain benefits that provide an acceptable return for their financial and in-kind investment in the project

The project used a participatory improvement model to build the capacity of mango businesses to capture and grow export opportunities. The project team worked with the commercial collaborators and their chain partners in a “learning together in partnership” approach, which provided case studies for achieving sustainable competitive advantage of Australian mango export chains.

Mango exports peaked during the 2009/10 season with a total 3,974 tonnes exported, which was a 25 per cent increase on the previous season. The value of exports also peaked with a 5 per cent increase to $15.05 million. During the 2010/11 season, both the volume and value of exports decreased due to the extreme wet weather in all Queensland production districts.

The highest volume markets for the collaborators were New Zealand, Middle East, Russia, and Japan. Overall, the collaborators exported 17.5 per cent of the total volume of mangoes exported from Australia during the 2010/11 season. In some markets, Japan, China, Korea, UK and Europe, the collaborators were the only Australian exporters. A notable achievement was the first export of Australian mangoes to South Korea during the 2010/11 season.

Training in best practice handling for Australian mangoes was delivered for businesses at all steps in the chain from harvesting to retailing. A total of 22 importers, 3 retailers, and 4 freight forwarding companies were trained in 10 export markets.

The first sea freight shipments were exported to Japan and mainland China in controlled atmosphere sea containers during the 2009/10 season. When compared to air freight, sea freight provided savings of $5.00 per carton. It also enabled better temperature control during transport and more consistent fruit quality on arrival in destination markets

A new handling and transport system was developed, tested and implemented for irradiating mangoes and sea freighting to New Zealand. The new system reduced double handling at the irradiation plant, provided fruit fly security after irradiation treatment, and enabled better temperature control during transport to Auckland. Savings of $4.00 per carton were achieved with this handling system when compared to the existing air freight handling system.