Quality has always been the watchword for South African fruit exports but it may well be that the country has consigned some product not up to the usual high standard, says Capespan’s Deon Joubert. The operations manager responsible for exports at what remains South Africa’s largest exporter 12 years after industry deregulation, Joubert says when markets are strong [short supply] products are consumed more quickly “so we might have got away with some fruit that was marginal last year”. “I think product volume has gone down this year, firstly due to the effect of production cycles, a tree possibly bearing good volumes for two years or so, followed by a year of less thereafter. Climatic conditions have also played a role in lower production.” Joubert says South African citrus was in very high demand last year, due to crop failures in other parts of the world “so perhaps quality issues were not that evident because of the shortage of the product”. Sadly, the credit crunch has impacted somewhat on the country’s exports – particularly in Russia and the Middle East. There was a time when Russia took a good quantum of different fruit varieties from South Africa, as did the Middle East although more inclined toward citrus, but the situation has reversed due in large measure to a stronger rand which has had a negative effect on dollar payments. While Capespan Exports recorded its best financial year in 2008, net profit accounting for around R28.6 million [before tax] from fruit exports out of a total Capespan Group R195.9 million [before tax] , CEO Neil Oosthuizen has warned there can’t be room for complacency this year, a sentiment shared by Joubert. “This is going to be a real watershed in terms of the business models, efficiencies and partnerships one is able to establish… and that goes for all exporters.”
