South African orange export volumes increased significantly in 2017 with year-on-year growth to all destinations, according to Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) CEO Justin Chadwick.
He said that this could largely be attributed to near record recovery in Valencia orange export volumes resulting in an increase of 37% for Europe, from 15.6 million to 19.1 million cartons.
Volumes to South East Asia and the Middle East grew by 18% while Asia was up 8% and Russia and the United Kingdom 7%.
There was however a decrease in the export volumes of navel type oranges in 2017 due to the large drop in Eastern Cape volumes as a result of hot, dry conditions.
Chadwick said that export volumes had been erratic over the past five years – peaking in 2013 before falling in 2016 due to dry conditions.
