South African citrus growers have seen a decline in export volumes following a difficult and largely unprofitable 2026 season.
The Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) says packed cartons for export were 1.5% lower than the previous year and below initial projections.
CEO of the CGA, Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, says the decline is attributed to rising shipping and production costs, disruptions to key export routes, weaker international demand and port congestion.
He says flooding in the Western and Eastern Cape also contributed to the challenging season. Ntshabele says urgent improvements in market access, shipping capacity and port logistics are needed.
“Our growers and the approximately 160 000 farm-level jobs that they protect are counting on us. Through collective action, the CGA will focus on a number of industry-level interventions. We will place focus on better and more timely data on market demand. We will continue to press for more reliable port and marine logistic.
“And we will also consider industry marketing initiatives in key countries, building on our current marketing investment in India. Government action on improved market access and logistics will also be essential for us to make progress,” Ntshabele says.
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