MUMBAI: Fifteen shipments of mangoes from India were destroyed in the United States after being rejected at airports due to documentation errors. Exporters say they lost around $500,000, even though the fruit was properly treated before shipping from Mumbai.
The mangoes had undergone the required treatment at a USDA-supervised facility in India, meant to meet strict US import rules. But due to mistakes in paperwork at that facility, the US authorities refused to accept the shipments.
The fruit could not be returned or redirected to other markets, forcing Indian exporters to destroy them. The unexpected loss has raised concerns in India’s agricultural export community and highlighted the risks linked to third-party handling.
Officials from APEDA are in discussions with their US counterparts to review procedures and ensure such errors do not repeat. The incident is also being seen in the broader context of India-US trade talks, which are progressing toward a possible agreement.
India is one of the world’s top mango exporters, and the US is a key market for its high-value produce. This setback is not only financial but could also affect confidence and cooperation in future trade dealings.
