Citrus exporters expect record season

This year citrus exporters are expecting a return to the record high levels of 2010, after lesser but still historically robust volumes shipped in 2011. “The expectation is that the 100-million-carton market will be achieved – the actual estimate is 103 million 15 kg cartons, which includes Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. This estimate is related to cartons packed and passed for export in 2012 which is 4% up on the reduced 2011 crop and similar to the record crop achieved in 2010,” said Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA). Some 99.3m cartons of citrus were packed for export in 2011, just shy of breaking the 100-million-carton mark, and down from 101.7m cartons shipped in 2011, according to John Edmonds, CGA information manager. The 102.9m cartons expected to go out in 2012 will make this a record year. Citrus in all varieties will be shipped out in higher quantities than last year except for grapefruit, whose volumes will drop from 16.2m 15 kg cartons shipped in 2011 to an expected 15.2m this year. (Actually, grapefruit is one citrus shipped in 17 kg cartons – the international standard – but conversion to 15 kg is made to achieve consistency on all citrus volume figures.) In 2010, 13.4m cartons of grapefruit were exported. One new destination to receive two varieties of SA citrus this year will likely be South Korea. “It seems almost certain the South Koreans will approve the import of grapefruit and lemons from South Africa in 2012. The proposed protocol is the same as that for sweet oranges. The Korean authorities require a list of producers (PUCs) that would potentially supply fruit,” said Chadwick. SA provincial points of origin will be Limpopo, where 19 000 ha are under citrus cultivation, Eastern Cape (12 000 ha) and Mpumalanga (12 000 ha). Citrus shipments have commenced but peak shipping season arrives mid-winter, with June historically the busiest month.