Brazilian mango exporters will be able to plug a gap on the U.S. West Coast with the Ecuadorian season expected to start two weeks later than normal in mid-October.

The U.S.'s biggest Brazilian mango distributor Amazon Produce Network, said the country's season had started earlier than usual in the third week of July and looked set to continue until the end of November.

Amazon grower relations manager Gilmar Mello, said this was good news for Brazilian exporters.

"Brazil will be able to take advantage of this as the West Coast market is normally fulfilled by Ecuadorian mangoes. Whenever Mexico is out there will be no other mangoes available except from Brazil, so we will have to ship from the East Coast to the West," he said

Oppenheimer tropical categories director Steve Woodyear-Smith agreed, saying it would "open up a window" for Brazil.

Freska Produce International marketing executive Gary Clevenger said it looked like Brazil was in a good spot.

"There will be more Brazilian fruit in the U.S. We will have Mexican mangoes for another two to three weeks but this could stop soon as they have had some rain and we will start seeing more damaged fruit."

Mello said freight on board (FOB) prices looked set to continue at a healthy US$6.50-7.00 per 4 kilogram box because supply was just right with one vessel a week arriving.

"In the last week of September last year two vessels arrived at the same time with prices as low as US$5.00 a box, which is really a loss for growers and exporters."

This season also marks a first for Brazil in exporting Kents to the U.S. with initial shipments expected to arrive next week. The country has traditionally exported predominately Tommy Atkins and some Ataulfos and Palmers.

"The market is discovering new and other varieties and is open to trying this new variety," said Mello who added that the U.S. was still happy to take Tommy Atkins despite Europe's growing resistance to this cultivar.

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