CGA: South Africa’s citrus export season faced major challenges

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s latest citrus export season was marked by significant disruptions, with shipping delays and logistical bottlenecks at multiple ports adding to the difficulties faced by citrus growers.

CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA), Justin Chadwick, described the season as “incredibly challenging” due to complications in the cold chain, equipment issues at ports, and unpredictable climate.

Cold chain and shipping bottlenecks

“The challenges were widespread across all South African ports,” Chadwick stated. Durban’s container terminals, in particular, experienced severe equipment problems, affecting ship turn-around times and leading to truck delays at terminal entrances.

These complications were further aggravated by Transnet’s truck booking system, which restricted booking slots, making it harder to deliver containers into terminals.

However, despite these setbacks, Chadwick mentioned some positive developments. “Specialised reefer shipping to key markets like Japan, China, the USA, and Russia remained largely consistent,” he noted.

Climate-related challenges impact production

The difficult export season was compounded by a challenging growing season. Climate conditions, especially the delayed onset of winter, impacted the ripening and coloring of the fruit.

This, in turn, contributed to lower yields and export volumes, particularly from the Northern Regions of Letsitele and the Lowveld. Chadwick explained, “Production from these regions was the lowest we’ve seen in recent years.”

Lower production was somewhat beneficial in managing the broader logistical issues. “It was fortunate that production was low this season, given the extent of the challenges we faced,” Chadwick added.

While export volumes were down, some regions still reached full capacity for plugging containers, indicating that there was still some success in shipping fruit to international markets.

Port-specific issues

The Port of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) also faced significant challenges during the season. “The terminal’s capacity to handle reefer cargo was severely strained, with the facility supporting services to Europe, the Middle East, and North America,” Chadwick said.

The added burden of increased exports from the Eastern Cape, which rose by 20% this year, further exacerbated these challenges.

Windy conditions in the Eastern Cape’s Sundays River Valley also had a disruptive effect on shipping schedules, delaying ships and creating bottlenecks. These weather disruptions, combined with equipment failures at the ports, were a recurring issue throughout the export season.

Concerns about greening disease

Furthermore, in another recent development, the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) recently reassured the public that there is no new threat from African Citrus Greening (ACG) affecting the country’s citrus industry.

Chadwick clarified, “Contrary to media reports, the local citrus industry is not facing a new disease threat.”

He explained that ACG has been present in South Africa since 1932 and is effectively controlled through established measures. The government has implemented strict regulations to prevent the spread of ACG from affected areas to those that are greening-free.

“There are effective controls in place, and the movement of propagation material from affected areas is strictly prohibited,” Chadwick emphasized.

He also highlighted that ACG cannot be transmitted through fruit or seeds, which dispels concerns that the disease could spread through citrus exports.

Despite the difficulties, some ports showed signs of promise. Chadwick praised the Port of Cape Town, which managed to handle exports relatively well due to surplus capacity. However, even here, unusual weather patterns caused occasional delays, further highlighting the growing unpredictability that both growers and exporters must contend with.

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