Value of export fruit could decline by R1bn

RAY SMUTS THE NUMBER of exporters handling fruit has decreased slightly from 375 in 2003 to 370 this year when 2 110 032 tonnes of all fruit was exported. Exporter numbers have grown steadily since 1998 when 1 447 349 tonnes was exported and never decreased save for this year. Last year, South Africa exported 668 000 tonnes of deciduous, 1 200 000 tonnes of citrus and 65 000 tonnes of sub-tropical for a total of some R8 billion, the total volume mix being about 53% deciduous, around 41% citrus and subtropicals some 6%. The value of export fruit could well decline by about R1 billion this year.