Industry organisation the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has revised its total export estimate for this year downward to 205.3-million 15 kg cartons, from the pre-season estimate of 209.4-million 15 kg cartons.

With all varieties included, the industry has now reached the peak of the export period, which has placed considerable pressure on port capacity, with delays being experienced at the Port of Durban.

It has been a very challenging season for citrus growers. Floods in the Western and Eastern Cape have impacted the season and the Patensie region faced significant challenges. Input costs, market conditions and pricing are placing pressure on farm-gate margins, the CGA points out.

Factors beyond the region's borders have proved consequential. Supplying the Middle East has remained difficult as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region. Traditionally, this region receives about 20% of South Africa's exports.

The US-Iran war has also placed considerable pressure on input and logistics costs, such as diesel and, most notably, shipping rates, and transit times were also affected. The conflict's effects extend well beyond the region, weighing on demand in other markets as well.

The potential spread of the conflict to the Red Sea and any disruptions at the Port of Jeddah is a growing concern for shipping routes and for grower options going forward.

As the season has reached its peak volumes, the CGA emphasises the importance of quality discipline across the value chain, including ensuring the right fruit, of the right quality, reaches the right market.

CITRUS VOLUMES
The Mandarin estimate has been lowered by 2.7-million 15 kg cartons from the original estimate. Nova and Leanri harvesting has been completed. All regions that are still packing are now focused on the late Mandarin types and packing varieties such as Orri, Nadorcott and Tango.

The Navel orange estimate has been lowered by 4.6-million 15 kg cartons from the original estimate in March. Larger Navel orange fruit sizes have been reported in the Eastern Cape due to increased rainfall. About 75% of the Navel crop has been packed, with less than six-million cartons of late Navels remaining to pack.

There have been only marginal adjustments to the Valencia orange estimates. There is an overall trend of excellent yields per hectare in the northern regions, which has been offset by a lower crop in the Eastern and Western Cape.

Orange juice factories are processing considerable volumes of fruit. The Valencia season packing will reach its peak over the next two to three weeks. The expectation is that the season might be somewhat longer than usual.

The grapefruit estimate has been lowered by 1.7-million 15 kg cartons from the original estimate. The northern regions have completed packing for grapefruit. The Oranje Rivier and KwaZulu-Natal areas are drawing to a close. Class 1 and 2 year-to-date volumes are lower than in past years, while fruit destined for processing factories is higher.

Further, the lemon season, which has drawn to a close in most regions, is recording an increase in estimated exports, with a total increase of 5.4-million cartons compared with the original estimate. Some packhouses in the country's largest lemon-producing region, the Eastern Cape, are indicating they have less than 10% of the volumes remaining to be packed.