South Africa’s citrus exports performed beyond expectation this year, with soft citrus posting record volumes, according to information released by the Citrus Growers’ Association.
Excellent market conditions and good quality saw satsumas, clementines and mandarins surpassing estimates and 2015 levels. The final 2016 packed for export satsumas stood at 1.9 m, clementines 3.1m and mandarins 7.2 m – resulting in a record 12.2-million carton soft citrus crop [183 000 tons]. This against 10m for 2014/15.
The UK and Europe took delivery of 65% (2015 63%) of the larger soft citrus volume exported – increasing from a combined 5.9 m to 7.3 million cartons. South East Asia also experienced increasing volume from 0.6 m (2015) to 1.1 million cartons. There was also an increase in North America (0.8 m 2015 to 1.1 m 2016). These increases were at the expense of Russia which dropped from 0.9 m to 0.7 million cartons. Africa (0.3 m) and Middle East (0.7 m) remained static.
“The season was characterised by good demand and excellent quality – leading to strong markets and good returns,” said CGA CEO Justin Chadwick.
