‘An attractive market for citrus exports’

There’s growing
opportunity for citrus
exporters in the Middle
East with Iran offering
the greatest potential,
according to Citrus
Growers’ Association (CGA)
CEO, Justin Chadwick.
While exports to Iran
had declined over the years,
the Middle East remained
one of the largest importers
of South African citrus, he
told FTW.
He said approximately
20% of South African citrus
was exported to the Middle
East.
The United Arab Emirates
is currently South Africa’s
third biggest citrus importing
country in terms of volume
– at about 10 million 15
kilogram cartons, followed
by Saudi Arabia (7 million),
Kuwait (2.5 million) and Oman
(just under 1 million).
“The Middle East is an
attractive market as there
are reasonable import
requirements and few barriers
to trade,” he added.
However, CGA information
manager John Edmonds
pointed out that South African
citrus exports to the Middle
East had slowly been on the
decline since reaching their
highest level in 2015.