UQ Gatton students assess Taiwanese market for Australian mangoes

A team of UQ Gatton agribusiness students has just returned to Australia after evaluating the potential for shipping Australian mangoes to Taiwan.

Their market evaluation for major north Queensland growing and packing company Emu Exports will be part of the company’s five-year industry development strategy, according to Emu Exports principal John Morton.

“Taiwan is closed to us at present due to quarantine issues, but I hope this report will help spark some action on research necessary to open it up,” Mr Morton said.

“The industry needs new markets to handle future growth in production.”

Mr Morton, who has plantations at Alligator Creek south of Townsville, said vapour heat treatment was used for exporting mangoes to other Asian markets and work needed to begin on protocols for Taiwan.

“The report from the Gatton students has been a very useful start,” he said.

His business, which has specialised in mangoes for the past decade, operates a modern packing facility for a number of other farmers in the region.

UQ Gatton associate professor in agribusiness Ray Collins accompanied the student group to Taiwan on its fact-finding mission.

“Taiwan is a huge mango consumer and quality Australian fruit could match demand during its off season,” Dr Collins said.

The team met with fruit importers and traders and spent time gauging consumer perceptions about the types of mangoes grown in Australia.

They also looked at the economic feasibility of supplying quality fruit to Taiwan.

The trip to Taiwan was one of four studies undertaken by agribusiness students graduating at the end of this year.

Other groups visited India, Europe and the Middle East gathering market intelligence for Australian exporters.

Media: For more information, contact Dr Ray Collins (telephone 5460 1328) or Anthony Smith (telephone 0409 265 587).