The industry has now packed over 80% of its season’s produce, with 60.70 million cartons inspected for export—2% more than the same period last year.

The Northern Provinces and Orange River Regions have completed their packing. However, the Northern Provinces Region fell short of their seasonal estimate by 18%, while the Orange River Region slightly exceeded expectations by 2%.

The Hex River, Berg River, and Olifants River regions are still in the process of packing.

The national crop estimate remains at 76.40 million cartons inspected for export. The top three exported varieties in Week 06 were Sweet Celebration, Sweet Globe, and Crimson Seedless.

Most shipments—79%—went to the EU and the UK, while 11% were sent to North America.

Strong winds in Cape Town during the first two weeks of February caused shipping delays at the port. Productivity at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT), measured in gross crane moves per hour (GCH), stood at 13 for Week 06, slightly below the year-to-date average of 14.

“The difference between volumes inspected and exported by the end of Week 06 was 12.13 million cartons, compared to 12.99 million cartons at the same time last season, reflecting a 7% decrease in stock buildup,” stated Antoinette van Heerden, Logistical Affairs Manager at FPEF.

According to available data from the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), 5.83 million cartons were in cold storage, while 4.67 million cartons were loaded onto vessels but had not yet sailed.

CTCT is currently operating eight out of nine ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 23 out of 24 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, which is sufficient to meet current operational needs.

Plans are underway to bring in additional RTGs, with the first batch expected to arrive in March. Assembly and training for these units could see them in use by July 2025.

South Africa’s citrus industry faced logistical challenges in 2024, leading to an estimated R5.27 billion (US$270.1 million) in losses. Despite this, the industry remains a major contributor to agricultural exports.

Apple exports increased by 12% in 2024, reaching 48.6 million cartons. Early projections for 2025 suggest a further 5% rise in shipments.

In the stone fruit sector, exporters are running promotions in the United States to boost demand for plums, while new cultivars are being introduced to maintain quality.

Horticulture continues to perform strongly in South Africa’s agricultural exports, with significant demand for berries, nuts, wine, and stone fruit.

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