Despite one of the best seasons on record in terms of mitigating the risk of Citrus Black Spot (CBS) symptoms on fruit arriving at EU borders, the EU seems determined to meet South Africa’s best efforts with unflinching bureaucratic coldness.

The citrus growers from Southern Africa will export a record crop of close to 137 million boxes of citrus fruit to more than 100 countries this year. The rise in exports should translate into job opportunities, more foreign exchange revenue and a growing economy.

Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, spoke about the challenges and triumphs of SA’s citrus industry at the recent Citrus Summit.

While expectations for the South African citrus export forecast were high at the Citrus Growers Association’s (CGA) summit early last month, with the nation predicted to send a record 137 million boxes overseas, some in the industry have warned that exports may be lighter than previously anticipated.

South African citrus growers in the Western and Northern parts of the Cape region are gearing up for the start of their 2019 export season to the US.

Usually the situation at Durban Harbour is the citrus industry’s greatest cause for concern but this season the situation at the Port Elizabeth container terminal (PECT) and the new Ngqura (Coega) container terminals (NCT) is “absolute chaos” and “a major crisis”, according to various citrus exporters, affecting fruit exports from the region. Exports are happening but at a very slow pace and if the situation isn’t rectified soon, the citrus industry warns, it could take weeks to stabilise.

The South African citrus industry calls on Minister Patel to intercede on behalf of our industry, and the jobs it represents, and prevent the industrial action at Transnet’s Port of Ngqura from developing into a deeper economic crisis.

Citrus industry generates billions in exports despite bruising year

The recently-launched World Citrus Organisation (WCO) is set to expand its membership from seven to fourteen countries.

The southern African citrus industry has shown considerable growth over the past ten years – doubling export volumes to two million tonnes.

Southern Africa is expected to export a record 143.3 million cartons of citrus fruit to over 100 countries in 2020. This is a 13% increase when compared to 2019, which saw 126.7 million cartons being exported, generating R20 billion in export revenue and creating 120 000 jobs.

As South Africa moves into its fourth week of a national lockdown, the citrus industry continues to focus on ensuring consumers have access to fresh citrus fruit while safeguarding the health of its workers. 

The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has issued a call for applications for a R307 million Economic Transformation of Black Citrus Growers Programme that has been launched.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has made an application (through the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)) to the Minister of  Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza for the approval of a substantially increased statutory citrus export levy for the next four year cycle - from 2021 to 2024.

Every four years the Citrus Growers' Association recalculates the mandatory levy and, with the blessing of most of its 1,250 growers and 400 packhouses, an increase to the levy from 74c (0.04 euro) to R1,64 (0.086 euro) per 15kg export carton next year has been proposed.

The South African citrus industry’s quest to quench the European Union (EU) market’s thirst for its produce unencumbered by bureaucracy remains elusive. 

Export campaign is turning out to be one of the best in recent years, with high demand for navels and Valencias.

While COVID-19 has disrupted many industries, the citrus industry in South Africa has emerged resilient, with strong demand in export markets and strong potential beyond the crisis.

After eleven years of negotiations, the South African citrus industry has been given the go-ahead to export to the Philippines after the signing of a workplan between the  Department Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Philippines Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI).

During the lockdown in March, the demand for oranges went through the roof; a market development from which the southern hemisphere benefited the most.