Record SA citrus exports in 2023

Helena Wasserman
  • 5 Months Ago - 2023-11-23 00:00:00
In 2023, Southern African citrus growers packed 165.1 million 15kg cartons for exports – a new record, and 800 000 more than in the previous year.
Following an extremely challenging two years, where only one in five growers made a profit, this year’s better market prices and reduced shipping costs offered a measure of relief to many growers, said Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA). Exports were still far below potential due to load shedding, rising input costs and flooding in the Citrusdal valley, which caused R500 million in damage to citrus farms.
But Chadwick says the industry's biggest challenge this season was the EU's "intensification" of unjustified regulations on SA imports to benefit its own citrus producers, particularly Spain. South Africa is the world's second-largest citrus exporter after Spain. Almost a third of SA citrus exports go to Europe.
The EU has taken a tough stance on SA citrus exports, claiming that it wanted to protect its population from citrus affected by black spot disease. The EU is the only market in the world that has acted against black spot disease. Also citing concerns over False Codling Moth (FCM), a native pest to South Africa, the EU has required that all South African oranges destined for Europe be pre-cooled to below 2 degrees Celsius for 20 days before shipment.
Local citrus growers have maintained that this is unfair and discriminatory, with no basis in science. Chadwick says the "unnecessary" protocols demanded by the EU against black spot and FCM are costing the local citrus industry R3.7 billion annually.
"Looking ahead to the 2024 season, stricter control measures or an EU market closure will surely devastate entire farming communities across South Africa," he added. The CGA wants the government to challenge the EU measures at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The EU's actions resulted in a decline in orange exports, with Navels down 3.1 million to 24.7 million cartons and Valencia exports falling by 1.7 million to 52.1 million cartons. Grapefruit exports decreased by 1.9 million to 14.8 million – from 20.3 million in 2021.-Fin24