The Lemon Focus Group (LFG) has revealed that export volumes at present are double those of 2019, but has cautioned that there will be a slow-down in exports in the future as volumes are predicted at 19% up from 2019.
“There are many factors that are impacting the shipping of fruit from South Africa, mostly associated with the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” says a spokesperson. “It is likely that the 2020 shipping pattern will be unique, and all stakeholders are cautioned not to predict shipping trends based on previous years. This could also be ascribed to market pull and an earlier crop from the northern lemon-growing areas in SA.” He said this trend did not imply a doubling in total lemon crop.
The organisation has adjusted the predicted volume to 27.1 million cartons.
