1.  History of mango in Côte d'Ivoire

The Mangifera indica mango was introduced to West Africa in the 19th century. While in the 80s, mangoes and the Amélie variety made up 90% of mango orchards in West Africa, today over 50% of West African mango exports are Floridian varieties, and to a lesser extent Amélie, produced in the dry savannah region between Korhogo (Côte d'Ivoire), Yanfolia (Mali), and Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina).[1][2][3]

Mango is the seventh most produced fruit in the world, with a third of the production coming from its area of origin in India. The first mango orchards in Côte d'Ivoire were planted between 1865 and 1910 with West Indian varieties commonly known as "mangot" and "Amélie".

For a long time, mango was mainly picked and consumed locally in Côte d'Ivoire. However, since 1981, when it was first exported to the French market, it has become northern Côte d'Ivoire's third-largest export agricultural product, after cotton and cashew nuts.

Ivorian exports mainly concern mangoes of the Kent, Kéitt and Amélie varieties. The Amélie variety is increasingly being abandoned in favor of colored varieties such as Kent, Kéitt, Zill, Palmer and Brooks, which are very popular on the European market.[4]

Table 1: Côte d'Ivoire fresh mango production calendar

Source: FruiTrop, Inter-Mango study

Production of fresh mangoes (red color) in Côte d'Ivoire starts in March for the earliest varieties (Zill, Amélie, Kent) and extends into August for the latest varieties (Brooks).

Mango has become an important economic product for people living in the north of Côte d'Ivoire. Côte d'Ivoire's mango exports have increased considerably over the years, rising

[1] Smaller, more fibrous variety of mango

[2] The Amélie mango has a very tasty, fiber-free flesh. Small in size compared with other mango varieties.

[3] The Floridian varieties were created at a diversification center in Florida and then distributed worldwide. These are very colorful and attractive varieties.

[4] FruiTrop 2018

from 71 tons in 1981 to 22,533 tons in 2015, and reaching over 40,000 tons in 2019. The third-largest supplier to the European market, Côte d'Ivoire is also Africa's leading mango exporter, far ahead of other West African countries. Côte d'Ivoire saw record exports in 2021, with over 47,500 tons shipped to Europe. Côte d'Ivoire saw record exports in 2021, with over 47,500 tons shipped to Europe.

Table 2: Mango production trends in Côte d'Ivoire (in tons)

  • The only real data             
  • Source: FAOSTAT

According to the FAO, mango production in Côte d'Ivoire is estimated at around 180,000 tons in 2021, compared with 45,206 tons in 2010, representing average annual growth of 15%.[5]

Production location

Mango orchards are mainly concentrated in the north of the country, more specifically in the Korhogo, Sinématiali and Ferkessédougou regions (with a total surface area of 2,000 hectares), as well as in the towns of Boundiali (200 hectares), Odienné (150 hectares) and Bouaké (1,500 hectares). This region is highly suitable for mango cultivation, thanks to its alternating wet and dry seasons.

Mango trees planted in Côte d'Ivoire have a lower yield per hectare, with a maximum of three to seven tons, which is lower than the optimal growing conditions found in India and Brazil. In these countries, Kent varieties can produce between 10 and 15 tons per hectare, while Kéitt and Palmer varieties can produce between 15 and 20 tons per hectare.

Mango processing

The mango sector is suffering considerable losses between the quantity of mangoes produced and the quantity of mangoes exported. Post-harvest losses are estimated at

[5] Fresh mango production in Côte d'Ivoire is currently based on estimates, due to a lack of in-depth studies of the sector.

around 30-35% of total production, i.e., between 54,000 and 63,000 tons of mangoes lost after harvest, out of a production of 180,000 tons in 2021.

Processing fresh mango into by-products such as dried mango, mango juice, mango jam, etc., could help solve the problem of post-harvest losses facing the mango sector.

Dried mango

The processing of mango into dried mango is still an immature activity in Côte d'Ivoire. In the 90's, small-scale mango processing plants already existed. However, it underwent a significant evolution between 2014 and 2016, driven by the WAPP/WAAP, a program financed by the World Bank. The aim was to support three producers' cooperative societies (in Ferkessédougou, Boundiali and Korhogo) so that they could each obtain a semi-industrial mango drying unit.

Table 3: Evolution of the quantity of fresh mango processed into dried mango in Côte d'Ivoire (in tons)

Source: Interprofession de la Mangue en Côte d'Ivoire (Intermangue)

Between 2017 and 2021, processing into dried mangoes rose from 89 tons to 593 tons, representing average annual growth of 66%. Dried mango is the main means of adding value to mango in Côte d'Azur, accounting for 67% of the total volume of mangoes processed.

Mango juice

Mango juice is the second most commonly used way of adding value to fresh mango in Côte d'Ivoire. However, its development is slower, with 28% of the volume of fresh mangoes processed by 10 of the 36 fresh mango processing units (dried mangoes, mango juice and nectar, and mango jams) available in 2021.

Local fresh mango processing units

A study by Inter-Mangue shows that there are three types of fresh mango processing units in Côte d'Ivoire:

  • - 24 dried mango processing units, which account for 67% of the total volume of mangoes processed;
  • - mango juice and nectar processing units, of which there are 10, accounting for 28% of the total volume of mangoes processed; and
  • - processing units for other products such as mango jam, numbering 2 and accounting for 5% of the total volume of mangoes processed.

2.  World mango market

According to Tridge, in 2020, world mango production will be concentrated mainly in Asia, and more specifically in India, which produces an average of 24 million tons (45.22% of world production). In addition to India, the world's other major mango producers are Indonesia (6.61%), Mexico (4.34%), China (4.33%), Pakistan (4.28%), Brazil (3.90%) and Thailand (3.04%).[6]

The world's leading mango exporters are Thailand (16.7%), Mexico (12.7%), the Netherlands (11.1%), Peru (7.9%), Brazil (6.3%) and India (4.6%). Côte d'Ivoire accounts for 1.4% of world mango exports. According to TradeMap data, global fresh mango exports grew by 5% in value and 3% in volume between 2018 and 2022.

Worldwide demand for mangoes is growing, particularly in temperate countries where they are rapidly gaining in popularity. The world's main mango importing countries are the USA (19.4%), China (18.7%), the Netherlands (8.3%), Germany (5.8%), the UK (5.5%) and France (3.7%).  According to TradeMap data, global fresh mango imports grew by 6% in value and 5% in volume between 2018 and 2022.   

[6] Tridge is an agri-food platform offering a tool for managing and optimizing supply chains for around 150,000 products, referenced in terms of price, volume and market share.

 

Table 4: Production trends for the main mango producers (in millions of tons)

Source: Tridge

The global mango market is the world's largest tropical fruit market. In fact, mango is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, making it a very popular and nutritious food.

In 10 years, global mango production has increased by an average of 4% a year, from 36.9 million tons in 2010 to 54.7 million tons in 2020. This increase in mango supply is due to growing demand worldwide, resulting from population growth, increased purchasing power and growing awareness of the health benefits of mango. This trend has also encouraged new producers to enter the market. Global demand for mangoes is concentrated mainly on ripe varieties grown specifically for direct consumption, as well as by-products such as juice, puree and jam.

However, it should be noted that the supply of mangoes is still subject to extreme climatic factors, such as hurricanes, droughts and excessive rainfall.

Market for fresh mango by-products

In 2021, the world's main mango juice importers by volume were the USA (271,304 m3), the Netherlands (84,110 m3), China (83,993 m3), Germany (83,942m3), Australia (53,456 m3), Japan (49,631 m3), France (43,521 m3), Canada (40,654 m3), Austria (35,549 m3).[7]  

Over the period from 2017 to 2021, global demand for mango juice grew by an average of 7% in value, with average annual growth of 20% for the United States. The United States accounts for 22.1% of global mango juice imports, followed by Germany (7.9%) and the Netherlands (6.9%).

In 2021, the world's leading importers of mango jam by volume were the USA (218,916 tons), Germany (113,350 tons), Russia (104,695 tons), France (99,193 tons), the

[7]https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProduct.aspx?nvpm=2%7c%7c%7c%7c%7c200989%7c%7c%7c6%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c1

Netherlands (57,424 tons), Canada (55,139 tons), Italy (44,729 tons) and the UK (43,786 tons).[8]  

Over the period 2017 to 2021, global demand for mango jam grew by an average of 3% in value and 2% in quantity, with average annual volume growth of 12% for the United States. The United States accounts for 15.1% of global mango jam imports, followed by Germany (7.7%) and Russia (7.1%).

For dried mango, there is no specific statistical code for international trade (HS code). This means that there are no detailed statistics on dried mango imports worldwide. Consequently, the quantitative data presented below are based on industry estimates.

According to the latest available estimates for 2020, the world's main importers of dried mangoes are the United States (9,071 tons), Germany (1,975 tons), the United Kingdom (1,300 tons) and France (825 tons), followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy in smaller quantities.[9][10]

Along with the UK, Germany accounts for half of the European dried mango market. Together with the United Kingdom, Germany accounts for half of the European dried mango market.

What's more, the Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) predicts that the European dried mango market will enjoy stable growth in the medium to long term, with an average annual growth rate of 5-6%. This growth will be driven by changes in Europeans' consumption habits, including growing demand for healthier snacks and reduced consumption of sugary snacks. The countries that offer the best opportunities for suppliers from developing countries are the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy.

Fresh mango is the most important segment of the global mango market, accounting for the majority of global mango consumption. The markets for dried mango, mango jam and mango juice are also growing steadily, due to increasing demand for healthier foods and growing interest in exotic foods.   

3. Regulations and government measures

In Côte d'Ivoire, the mango sector is regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This ministry's mission is to oversee the implementation of policies and programs for the development of agriculture, including the mango sector.

The regulation of the mango industry includes several aspects, in particular:

 

[8]https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProduct.aspx?nvpm=2%7c%7c%7c%7c%7c200989%7c%7c%7c6%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c1

[9] https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/

[10]https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/processed-fruit-vegetables-edible-nuts/dried-mango/market-potential

  • - quality norms and standards for mango production, processing and export;
  • - certification of mango producers, processors and exporters to guarantee product quality and safety;
  • - a monitoring system to control product quality and detect fraud and illegal practices.

Since 1995, the Central Organization of Pineapple, Banana and Mango Exporting Producers (OCAB) has taken charge of the sector, organizing and promoting mango exports with the support of the government and the European Union.

December 13, 2018 sees the creation of an Agricultural Interprofessional Organization (OIA) known as Interprofession of stakeholders in the mango sector (Inter-Mango). Inter-Mango comprises three (3) colleges:

  • - the producers;
  • - Traders (exporters, packaging service providers, harvesting technicians, local traders);
  • -

The producers' college comprises members of the Union of Mango Producers of Côte d'Ivoire (UPMACI), the Union of Cooperatives of Mango Producers of Côte d'Ivoire (UCPMCI) and seven (7) independent producers.

The traders' college includes the following umbrella organizations: the Regional Mango Exporters Association (AREXMA), the Organization of Banana, Pineapple and Mango Producers in Côte d'Ivoire (OBAM-CI), the Central Organization of Pineapple, Banana and Mango Producers and Exporters (OCAB), the Association of Mango Harvesting Technicians of Côte d'Ivoire (ATERMACI) and the Association of Mango Packers of Côte d'Ivoire (ACMCI).

The college of processors includes the Union of Mango Processors of Côte d'Ivoire (UTMACI) and several individual processors.

Intermangue's main objective is to contribute to the sustainable growth and development of the mango sector in Côte d'Ivoire, by strengthening the competitiveness of players, increasing added value and promoting greater integration on national and international markets.

In addition, various national structures are involved in supporting the mango sector. Among the main structures, two stand out:

  • - the Interprofessional Fund for Agricultural Research and Consultancy (FIRCA), a professional organization responsible for financing applied research programs, agricultural consultancy, vocational training and capacity-building for agricultural and forestry organizations.
  • - the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), a company dedicated to conducting research programs in the agricultural and agro-industrial fields, and disseminating the results.

In addition, the Ivorian government has initiated several projects to revive the mango sector, including:

  • - the Support Project for Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Industrial Sector (PARCSI).

It is financed to the tune of CFAF 8.23 billion by the African Development Fund of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, with the Ivorian government contributing CFAF 1.22 billion to finance the industrialization of the mango and pineapple sectors. From 2017 (project implementation date) to 2019, 130 company executives have been trained in management, financial management, marketing, industrial maintenance management and production management. In addition, in December 2022, the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire hosted the official certificate award ceremony for 40 companies from various business sectors supported under the Project;

  • - the Competitive Value Chains for Employment and Economic Transformation Project (PCCET), officially launched on April 02, 2022, at a total cost of 108.6 billion CFA francs.

With funding from the World Bank, the PCCET, according to the government, aims to modernize Ivorian agriculture (mango, pineapple, rubber, oil palm), improve the competitiveness of value chains, and increase access to financing for underserved farmers and businesses. June 19, 2023 sees the official launch of a PCCET project to create a long-term investment facility (FILT) called CDC-CI Capital. This FILT will be established as a subsidiary of the Ivory Coast Deposit and Consignment Office (CDC-CI), and will, according to the Government, be endowed with a fund of 70 million US dollars, or around 38 billion FCFA. 

4. Constraints

  • - Processing units often lack working capital at the right time to purchase raw materials during the season;
  • - Most farmers in Côte d'Ivoire have not adopted modern agricultural technologies and practices to improve the quality and quantity of their mango crops;
  • - Côte d'Ivoire's mango industry lacks the training and expertise to improve its practices and performance;
  • - Diseases and pests affect mango production and quality, leading to post-harvest losses.[11]

5. Opportunities

  • - The mango is one of the five (5) most widely consumed tropical fruits in the world;
  • - Mango has a wide range of processing possibilities, including dried mango, mango jam, mango chips, mango juice and mango butter, which is used in the manufacture of several body products;
  • - Côte d'Ivoire's ambition to process 50% of agricultural products, including mangoes, by 2025;
  • - Côte d'Ivoire is in great need of mango processing units, as more than a third of the mangoes produced rot;
  • - Côte d'Ivoire has a great need for entities to collect, process, pack and transport fresh and processed mangoes;
  • - Côte d'Ivoire has a great need for local equipment and machinery for mango processing;
  • - Demand for mangoes and processed products in Côte d'Ivoire and around the world is rising steadily;
  • - The mango processing activity is eligible under the investment code, which grants tax and customs exemptions to operators in the sector.

 

[11] Comparative pathological activity of two isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioïdes (PENZ.) on two varieties of mango (Mangifera indica L.)

6. SWOT analysis

7.  Conclusion and recommendations  

Mango exports account for 40% of fruit exports (excluding cashew nuts) from the UEMOA zone. Côte d'Ivoire is the leading fruit exporter in the WAEMU, with 70% of exports, and the leading exporter of fresh mangoes in the Union, with 50% of exports. However, the processing rate for fresh mango in Côte d'Ivoire remains low, at less than 10%. However, the Côte d'Ivoire government is aiming for a 50% processing rate by 2025.

To this end, it has set up projects to promote the industrialization of several raw materials, including mango. These include the Support Project for Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Industrial Sector (PARCSI), and the Competitive Value Chains for Employment and Economic Transformation Project (PCCET).

What's more, global consumption of processed mango products, particularly dried mango, has been rising steadily since 2020 and is expected to continue to do so in the medium to long term, with an average annual growth rate of 5 to 6%.

There are also significant post-harvest losses in Côte d'Ivoire, estimated at around 30-35% of total production.

The availability of raw materials, the growth of the global market and the government's willingness to support the sector all represent investment opportunities, to which must be added the needs at different levels of the value chain, notably in production, warehousing and logistics, machinery manufacturing and maintenance, and waste recovery.

However, the mango sector in Côte d'Ivoire faces several challenges, such as the seasonality of production due to climate change, the vulnerability of fresh mangoes to disease, poor preservation capacity leading to post-harvest losses, lack of productivity and lack of local processing technologies.

In conclusion, investing in mango processing in Côte d'Ivoire represents an opportunity, even if there are risks that can be mitigated by taking into account the sector's challenges.