South Africa will export some 12 000 tons of blueberries this season – a 50% increase on last year’s figures. According to Jeán Kotzé, chairperson of the South African Berry Producers’ Association, the last three years have seen particularly impressive growth in berry production, with blueberries making the most impact in terms of volume growth and job creation. “Between 2016 and 2018 blueberry production jumped from 4 100 tons to 11 300 tons. In 2019 we expect production to reach 17 000 tons,” said Kotzé. While the country is not fully exploiting the potential of blueberry exports as a commodity due to their limited market access, the industry has, however, taken full advantage of the markets to which it does have access. According to Kotzé this is reflected in the significant increases in production every year. On average about 70% of the country’s blueberries are exported. “The United Kingdom is still our biggest export destination,” said Kotzé. “However, in the last few years the industry has successfully diversified its markets. Whereas 90% of our exports were destined for the UK in 2013, this figure was only 54% in 2018. Our exports to the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are growing steadily.” The outlook for the sector is also extremely positive, with growth expected to continue in light of growing demand – for blueberries in particular. “The potential to grow our export markets is huge. The value of blueberry exports grew from R133 million in 2013 to R1.058 billion in 2018,” said Kotzé. According to a recent economic impact study of the industry compiled by the Western Cape department of agriculture, the South African blueberry industry is one of the fastest-growing horticultural industries in the country, both in terms of hectares planted and gross value of production. “They are not only very profitable from an investment point of view, but also contribute to the economy through their linkages with upstream and downstream industries. In 2018, inputs used by the industry were valued at R570 million, while direct investment in newly established orchards in the past year added another R421 million in the form of direct investment. With an increasing world demand for this “super fruit”, which is high in anti-oxidants, the growth of South Africa’s berry industry is set to boost job creation and growth for input sectors,” reads the report.
Massive hike in blueberry exports
04 Oct 2019 - by Liesl Venter
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FTW 4 October 2019
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