Indian mangoes are selling at lower prices this year in New Zealand than in recent seasons, with a fierce price war reportedly unfolding among several retailers, RNZ reported. The drop in prices, while a sign of increased supply and popularity, has raised concerns among importers over the long-term impact on the fruit’s value.
The Indian mango season typically runs from April to mid-July, ending when the monsoon arrives. In New Zealand, mango prices range from $50 to $85 per carton (containing eight to twelve mangoes weighing around three to four kilograms), with variety and timing affecting the cost. Fruit imported early and late in the season tends to be more expensive.
Despite the discounting, the 2025 season has otherwise been successful, with Indian mangoes appearing on the shelves of major retail chains such as Woolworths, Farro Fresh, and Foodstuffs, which owns New World and Pak'nSave.
Prasad Salaskar of Salient Enterprises, which imports and distributes Indian mangoes nationwide, expressed mixed views on the season. He told RNZ that it was heartening to see Indian mangoes being sold in major supermarkets, adding that the goal of mainstreaming the fruit in New Zealand had been achieved. However, he pointed out that many Indian retailers engaged in price undercutting this year, particularly for the Kesar variety, which flooded the market. According to him, some retailers ultimately sold the fruit below cost, a move he said devalues the premium product and benefits no one.
Nirmal Pandey, who runs the Auckland-based brand Mango Bite, shared a similar perspective. He said his mango imports had nearly tripled this season and welcomed the wider availability of Indian mangoes. While acknowledging that some retailers tried to initiate price wars, he believed customers had become more discerning and now understood the value of quality. As a result, his company maintained its pricing and still had a strong season.
RNZ reported that Salaskar said, the price-cutting was largely confined to Auckland, where competition among Indian retailers is particularly intense. While he was unsure how to prevent undercutting in that market, he said his company aimed to expand its distribution across New Zealand by partnering with mainstream supermarkets.
Although Kesar remains the most popular variety, other Indian mango types such as Langra, Dasheri, Chausa, Neelam, Malda, Banganpalli, Totapuri, Rajapuri, Sinduri, and Alphonso are steadily gaining market share.
While the Ministry for Primary Industries does not publish specific data on mango imports—categorising them alongside guava and mangosteen—Hitesh Sharma, owner of Christchurch-based Maia Foods, reported a 20 percent increase in mango sales this season. He also noted that the number of varieties sold had nearly doubled.
Indian mangoes imported into New Zealand must comply with the Import Health Standard and undergo fumigation at one of two approved facilities: the Maharashtra Agricultural Marketing Board’s vapour heat treatment plant in Mumbai, and the Andhra Pradesh Agro Food facility in Tirupati, near Chennai.
Salaskar said he noticed a marked improvement in logistics this year, highlighting the importance of handling for perishable goods like mangoes. He added that wastage had been halved this season, which he viewed as a positive development.
Looking ahead, Pandey expressed optimism about the future of Indian mango imports. He said trial runs were conducted with a major retailer this season, and he hoped they would come on board. He also mentioned that additional vapour treatment facilities might be approved in future, further supporting imports.
Overall, he told RNZ, the outlook for Indian mangoes in New Zealand continues to improve year by year.