Arabfields, Isabela Valentina Montemayor, Correspondent, Mexico — Colombia’s mango industry is facing a difficult season after adverse weather disrupted flowering and reduced production by an estimated 30%, leaving exporters struggling to secure sufficient supplies and raising concerns over the country’s ability to meet domestic and international demand.
The shortfall, reported by the Colombian mango industry in October 2026, has pushed prices higher in several producing regions. However, growers are warning that stronger prices may not compensate for the loss of volume, particularly for farms where harvests have fallen well below expectations.
Gloria Isabel Morales, general manager of the Colombian Federation of Mango Producers, known as Fedemango, said the sector was dealing with production and marketing difficulties alongside a lack of technical assistance. The disruption has affected the availability of fruit at a critical point in the commercial calendar.
The problem begins in the orchards. Unfavourable climatic conditions earlier in the year interfered with flowering, limiting the number of fruits developing on trees. As a result, some growing areas have experienced significant shortages, while others are waiting for the next harvest to improve supplies.
For farmers, the impact is immediate. Although the reduced supply has supported prices in some markets, growers with little fruit to sell have fewer opportunities to benefit. Exporters face a similar challenge, as international buyers generally require reliable volumes and consistent quality throughout agreed delivery periods.
Preliminary industry estimates suggest that Colombia’s mango exports could fall by around 15% year on year. The final figure will depend on shipments in the remaining months of 2026 and the volume recovered from upcoming harvests.
Colombia has approximately 41,000 hectares devoted to mango cultivation, making the current disruption significant for a sector seeking to expand its international presence. The industry has set an ambitious target of reaching 600,000 tonnes in exports by 2030, although achieving that goal will require improvements in productivity, technical support and access to overseas markets.
The current shortage also highlights challenges beyond the weather. Exporters must meet different phytosanitary and commercial requirements depending on their destination. Shipments to the United States face additional costs associated with irradiation treatment, while European buyers impose strict limits on pesticide residues. Fruit fly infestations and anthracnose, a fungal disease that damages fruit, can further reduce the quantity suitable for sale.
These constraints make the production decline more difficult to manage. Even when prices rise, exporters may struggle to assemble enough marketable fruit to fulfil contracts and maintain relationships with international customers.
The next major test will come in November and December, when some Colombian regions are expected to begin new harvests. Improved availability could ease price pressures and help exporters recover part of their lost volumes. However, uncertainty remains over whether trees affected by irregular flowering will return to normal production levels.
The outlook for 2027 will depend on the recovery of orchards, weather conditions and the industry’s ability to address persistent production and marketing weaknesses. Without better technical assistance and more coordinated support, Colombia could struggle to translate its existing cultivation area into sustained export growth.
For now, the immediate priority is to recover lost production and stabilise supplies. The coming harvests should provide a clearer indication of whether the current shortage is a temporary setback or a more persistent challenge for Colombia’s ambitions in the global mango trade.
