Grapefruit star shines bright

Grapefruit are proving to be South
Africa’s perishables star performers in
2011, with shipped volumes thus far in the
export season surpassing those sent out for
the whole of last year.
According to the latest PPECB statistics,
13,2m 15 kg cartons of grapefruit have
been shipped from South Africa’s ports
to foreign markets. In 2010 10,4m cartons
were shipped.
Growers are optimistic that the best is
yet to come. They have revised upward
their original 2011 estimate that 14,7m
cartons would be exported. The figure is
now 15,7m cartons.
But the cost of shipping fruit remains as
troublesome to exporters’ bottom lines as
the continuing strength of the rand.
A production and logistics cost trend
analysis earlier this year reported that the
average SAR freight all-in rate was R1 250
per pallet in 2006 and 2007. Following the
2008 oil price hike the freight all-in rate is
currently averaging R1 750 per pallet – a
R500 per pallet increase and R7 per carton
(70 cartons per pallet).