INFRASTRUCTURE
A new sea shipment initiative makes mango exports profitable by cutting costs
- IBJ Bureau
- Jun 27, 2026
In a major breakthrough for India’s fresh fruit export sector, Indian mangoes have successfully reached Singapore through sea shipment.
This marks a significant milestone in expanding affordable and large-scale mango exports to international markets.
Indian mangoes are highly valued in Singapore for their superior taste, flavour and quality, with varieties such as Banganappalli and Kesar enjoying strong demand.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Lucknow-based Central Institute for Sub-tropical Horticulture (CISH), in collaboration with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), have recently developed a scientific sea shipment protocol for mango export to make export of the fruit more economical and competitive.
Under this initiative, a consignment of 4.3 tonnes of Banganappalli mangoes from Andhra Pradesh was exported to Singapore through a reefer (refrigerated) container.
The sea route offers a substantial reduction in logistics costs, estimated at Rs 13–20 per kg, compared to Rs 150–250 per kg through air shipment, making exports more viable for producers and exporters, while ensuring affordable prices for overseas consumers.
The protocol developed by ICAR-CISH integrates an end-to-end quality assurance system covering residue-free production, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), scientific harvesting, grading, packing and post-harvest management.
The exported fruits underwent Hot Water Treatment (HWT) and CISH-Met Wash, an ICAR-CISH-developed technology that enhances shelf life, minimises disease incidence and maintains fruit quality during long-distance transportation.
The success of this shipment is expected to facilitate expansion of Indian mango exports to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other markets, where current exports are estimated at around $5 million.
This initiative is also likely to create opportunities in larger markets, such as the UAE, valued at about $25 million.
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