Citrus News:
South Africa: Tough citrus season
coming to an end
S
outh African oranges have a
week or two of export to
go this season, this will
amount to between 50,000
and 60,000 tonnes mostly of Valencia.
dle East (330 000 tons), northern
America (105 000 tons) and Africa
(15 000 tons) export volumes all remained static. Similar to the EU,
Eastern European volumes also decreased – by 10%; grapefruit down
10%; navels down 31%; soft citrus
down 13% and Valencia down 4%.
Lemons increased by 2%.
has been the biggest market for so
long it is not easy to just put all that
fruit into another market.
South Korea, for example, has doubled the volume this season compared to last, Chadwick said this is a
Total citrus exports to Europe have
very good market, "Grapefruit first
been affected by the Citrus Black
gained access last year and lemons
Spot issue, and are down 14%. Both
and oranges can also be sent there,
Valencia and navel volumes deSouth Africa stopped packing for the but we must be careful not to flood
creased by 14%; while grapefruit
EU at the end of week 36 (except for the market. We will try and match
volumes decreased by 33%. Soft cit- Pest Free Areas and soft citrus);
supply with demand next season."
rus volumes to the EU increased
PPECB figures show that 12% less
slightly (2%) while lemon volumes
oranges have been shipped to EU
Asia as a whole imported 29% more
increased by 29% (in 2013 very little (since end week 36) than during the citrus from South Africa this season,
lemons were exported to EU). The
same period last year.
this is attributed to the rising middle
total volume of South African citrus
class and developing relations and a
exports to all markets was down just Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus
recognition of the quality of South
3%.
Growers’ Association said he would African citrus according to Chadnot like a repeat of this season; "If
wick.
Of the total exports worldwide,
there are any more requirements put
grapefruit was down 16%, navels
in place from the EU we will be out There is of course competition from
down 1% and Valencia down 5%
of the market."
other Southern Hemisphere counwhile lemons increased by 22% and
tries, Australia for one has the adsoft citrus increased by 15%.
He commented that the prevantage of being closer to the marscreening which has been put in
ket, but Chadwick says that South
The decreased volumes to EU were
place to screen the citrus before the African can compete on quality and
taken up by Asia, where total volofficial inspections by the authorities price.
umes increased by 29% (from 240
was very good but also very expen000 to 315 000 tons). Grapefruit
sive and he is not sure if it would be
volumes to Asia increased by 10%,
cost effective in the long term.
Publication date: 10/14/2014
lemon and soft citrus volumes douAuthor: Nichola Watson
bled while navel volumes increased
Other markets are available for
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com
by 44% and valencias by 15%. Mid- South African citrus but as the EU