Japan halts Indian mango imports over fumigation concerns
Japan has effectively stopped fresh mango imports from India after a March inspection found deficiencies in fumigation and related disinfection measures at Indian treatment facilities.
Japan has effectively halted fresh mango imports from India this season after plant quarantine officers flagged deficiencies in fumigation and related disinfection measures at Indian treatment facilities during an inspection visit in March. The disruption was reported by The Economic Times on May 24.
The halt affects several Indian varieties that are well known in the Japanese market, including Kesar, Alphonso, Langra and Banganapalli. According to exporters and an Indian agri-scientist involved in certification, shipments have in practice stopped, and the peak export window from April to June is likely to pass without a resolution.
The formal trigger was a March 31 statement issued by the Yokohama Plant Protection Association, citing a notification from Japan's government-run Plant Protection Station. It said shipments carrying inspection certificates issued by India on or after March 25, 2026, would not be accepted. Imports from Indian facilities will remain suspended until Japanese authorities are satisfied that operational standards have improved.
Japan is not the biggest destination for Indian mangoes, but the trade still has measurable value. In 2025-26, Gujarat's Kesar variety accounted for the largest share of India's mango exports to Japan, with shipments worth 0.2 million dollars out of total fresh and processed mango exports to the country valued at 1.54 million dollars. The Indian government had not publicly commented on the issue at the time of publication.
Exporters say the Japan setback comes on top of broader logistics pressure. A Gujarat-based exporter told the paper that airfreight to the United States has climbed to about 580 to 590 rupees per kilogram, compared with 250 to 350 rupees last year. He linked the increase to conflict in West Asia, higher jet-fuel prices and uncertainty around airline route changes. For mango exporters, that creates a double strain: phytosanitary restrictions in one market and sharply higher freight costs in another.