‘Market access for citrus must be optimised’

The South African citrus industry is expected to increase exports by another 300 000t over the next three years, and optimised market access will be essential for the industry’s continued growth.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) announced in March that the citrus industry was likely to break all previous export records this season, with an estimated 158,7 million 15kg-cartons.

According to Justin Chadwick, CEO of the CGA, the industry would be relying heavily on the efficiency of the harbours to successfully ship the additional 13 million cartons estimated for this season alone.

“We’ll also need to work hand-inhand with government to secure, maintain and retain as many market access opportunities as possible.”

He added that it was important that the country’s access endeavours became more agile and assertive, and that there were five key market access initiatives to conclude: wider access for citrus in the US; a reviewed lemon protocol for China; access for oranges to Vietnam; a change of entry requirements for India; and a change in protocol for Japan, with reviewed cold treatment measures and a widened scope for soft citrus.

Chadwick said the deciduous fruit and table grape industries had experienced a difficult year in terms of logistics in the Port of Cape Town.

“A slow work rate has resulted in long vessel delays, vessels skipping the port, cold stores becoming full, and a shortage of containers.”

He added that if these problems were not addressed, they would affect the current citrus season.

Deon Joubert, special envoy for EU market access at the CGA, said the key strategy with regard to market access was to retain the European and UK markets, which absorbed a great deal of South African citrus.

He added that South Africa supplied the market during the four-month period from May to August that followed the Northern Hemisphere season.

Chadwick said if the 2021 export estimate was achieved, it would represent a third consecutive season of record export volumes, with 130 million 15kg-cartons exported in 2019, followed by 146 million 15kg-cartons exported in 2020.

“Our current projections for 2021 indicate growth of 22% in export figures in just two years,” he added.

In terms of the latest estimates, regions producing soft citrus were projected to show the most significant growth, with an estimated 30,5 million cartons to be exported in 2021, up 29% on last year. – Pieter Dempsey

SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORTS OF CITRUS FRUIT ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE 22% THIS SEASON