The adverse conditions in the 2023 rain cycle were reflected in the harvest and exports of 2024. At the end of the year it was possible to export 3.5 million boxes of 4 kilos each, which represents a 19.9%drop, compared to the 4.3 million sent in 2023. In amount it was around US $ 9 million.
By 2025 they project export 4.6 million boxes, which would recover the level of two years ago, and would mean around 1.1 million boxes more than in 2024 (31% more), and with what would return to the average annual volume, the executive added.
The perspectives are now positive because the rain cycle of 2024 and of what goes from 2025 has been better. The effects of climate change are felt because it has to go to activities such as agricultural irrigation to maintain the harvest, instead rain and climate helps better growth and support, it was explained.
This year the sector expects to be able to return to the normal cycle on dates and production volumes.
Given that panorama, the mango harvest is about to begin. In Guatemala, the harvest season is carried out in the months of March to May. “There are 3 months, which coincide with the summer, when the harvest is presented in the production regions, the behavior is that in April it is the strongest part of the harvest,” said Luis Utrera, president of the Mango Committee assigned to the Agrícola Sector of AGEXPOR
Regarding some characteristics, mango cultivation is permanent, since they are trees that can reach up to 50 years, with annual harvest periods.
The Tommy, the most exported
Of the total of exported mango, 90% is from the Tommy Atkins variety
It is followed by the so -called Keitt, with 8%, which has had better results in Guatemala for the weather. There are also the Kent and Ataulfo variety (also called Honey) with 1% each, in addition to other types that are not yet commercially significant, Utrera said.
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The area cultivated with mango in the country is 13,455 hectares (HA), the largest areas are in Retalhuleu with 3,950.70 ha, which represents 29.36%; Suchitepéquez is followed, with 2 thousand 142.7 ha (15.54%); Quetzaltenango with 1 thousand 509.2 (with 11.22%); Escuintla with 1,460ha (10.8%), and Zacapa with 1,386 ha (10.3%), according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, updated to 2022, and disseminated in 2024. Other departments with production, but with lower areas, are Jutiapa, San Marcos, Chiquimula, El Progreso Izabal and Huehuetenango.
According to Utrera among the areas of greatest production is the southwest of the country, in which for export it is Retalhuleu, especially Champeric, and in the case of Suchitepéquez it is more destined for the domestic market.
There is also Escuintla, and in the Northeast one of the strongest is Zacapa, which includes the municipality of Estanzuela, with one of the plants of greater production in that area, in addition to Río Hondo and the Motagua Valley, he added.
For the harvest, around 150 people are required at each production plant in Retalhuleu, for example.
For labor for a couple of years a fairly critical factor has been migration since it has had strong scope in the agricultural sector and other sectors, so it has become a challenge, the hiring of personnel, said the executive, although in the mango sector regularly is hired the same people for the agricultural cycle.
Prices in Guatemala
Tommy or Pashte? What variety prefer.
- In Guatemala, the prices of Mango Tommy Atkins (medium first, and wholesale prices) are reported in Q575 one hundred (about 50 kilograms), according to the monitoring of the magician in the market the terminal as of February 27, 2025 and in the wholesaler (CENMA) in Q600
- In 2024, the average price of the month of February was Q562.72 a hundred; in March, Q463.24; In April 359.05 while from May to July it was around the Q260.
- However, there was more variation per week since in the first and second week of harvest in February it was in Q582 and 537.50 a hundred, as greater offer was entering, the price was stabilized, since the first week of March was in Q480 and the rest of March in Q450, according to the weekly report.
- Meanwhile, Pashte’s mango was quoted at the end of February 2024 in Q600 a hundred, in the first week of March in Q558, and then between Q479 and Q450.
By 2025, there are still no priced prices of this variety in the magician report.