Export diversification: Missing the wood for the trees – Part I
Export of Jackfruit by Gomi Senadhira A few recent news items prompted me to write this article. The first was in the Sinhala newspaper Divaina on jackfruits, which said that out of the 280 million jackfruits produced in Sri Lanka, only 80 million were consumed. Does this mean the rest, 200 million fruits, are just […]
In Sri Lanka, vast quantities of jackfruit go to waste each year. While 280 million jackfruits are produced annually, only around 80 million are consumed, leaving behind a significant quantity of waste. Recent reports suggest that around 70% of production is consumed, with the remaining 30% wasted. Despite this, Sri Lanka has the potential to tap into a rapidly growing global market for jackfruit, which is estimated to be worth billions of dollars.
Thailand and Vietnam currently dominate the export market for jackfruits, with Thailand accounting for approximately 300,000 tons of exports annually and Vietnam's exports increasing dramatically in recent years. However, Sri Lanka has the potential to become a major player in this market, particularly in the form of processed jackfruit products. South Asian countries in general are emerging as leading exporters of jackfruit.
The demand for fresh jackfruits, particularly in the Gulf countries and China, has been rapidly increasing in recent years due to its appeal to health-conscious consumers. However, due to the perishability of fresh jackfruits, exporters from India and Bangladesh rely on air shipments for quicker delivery. Despite the high waste-to-edible ratio of jackfruits, exports are mainly in semi-processed form to minimize losses during transportation.
Recent developments in Sri Lanka suggest that exporting fresh jackfruits by sea could be a game-changer. Although the journey from Colombo to Dubai by sea takes longer than from Bangladesh, the quality of the jackfruit remains intact. This more efficient and cost-effective method of shipping could help Sri Lanka capture a larger share of the global market for jackfruit and tap into lucrative markets in the Gulf countries.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
