US rejects 15 shipments of Indian mangoes, resulting in $500,000 loss

The United States rejected 15 shipments of Indian mangoes, citing incomplete documentation, causing potential loss of around $500,000 to the exporters. 

The consignments, which underwent mandatory radiation treatment in Mumbai on May 8 and 9, were turned away at major US airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta.

According to The Economic Times, the rejected shipments were part of a highly anticipated export of Indian mangoes to the US, where demand for the fruit remains strong. 

Read: Pakistan earns $40.6 million from mango exports in 2024

However, despite meeting the crucial phytosanitary requirement of irradiation, designed to eliminate pests and extend shelf life, the shipments failed to comply with required import paperwork standards.

The rejected consignments are estimated to have had a potential financial loss of approximately $500,000.

This rejection marks a massive financial blow for Indian exporter, who have two choices either destroy the fruit or send it back to India, exporters opted to discard the mangoes. 

With global markets setting stringent import standards, exporters are now calling for reforms and more robust export documentation processes to protect India’s agricultural trade interests.

The hope is that such costly mistakes can be avoided in the upcoming mango export seasons.