Citrus industry ready for bumper export season
The association says it will have enough fruit to export to global markets, as export estimates show stability and balanced growth.
Crates of oranges. Wikimedia Commons/Dietmar Rabich
CAPE TOWN - The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) is ready for the official start of the citrus export season next month.
The association says it will have enough fruit to export to global markets, as export estimates show stability and balanced growth.
The current prediction is that 32.9 million, 15-kilogram cartons of lemons will be exported to key markets, with a 5% increase in export volume for Navel oranges.
The association's CEO, Boitshoko Ntshabele, says grapefruit exports are also predicted to increase.
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However, Ntshabele said their biggest concern is logistics.
"The CGA is grateful for progress made by Transnet in terms of equipment acquisitions at the port. However, the long-term wait to achieve the needed efficiency at our ports is through the big structural change that only public sector participation can bring."
He adds that the quality of this year's fruit looks to be excellent.
"The data project exports that are in line with the five-year average, which means there will be sufficient fruit for our export markets. The outlook suggests no oversupply or undersupply."