Exports of many South African fruits are expected to fall by 10%, with port delays being the biggest threat

 

pear

 

Pears are the third largest deciduous fruit in South Africa, accounting for 17%
of the total deciduous fruit cultivation area.
Pears have grown steadily by an average of 1% per year over the past decade and are expected to reach 12,913 hectares or 18 million plants
in the 2020/21 season.
However, the actual planted area was lower than expected, falling to about 12,743 hectares
in the 2021/22 season.
The 2022/23 season is expected to be 12,740 hectares, with the coming years set to be flat
.
South Africa produced 461,200 tonnes of pears
in the 2020/21 season, according to the South African Deciduous Fruit Industry Group (Hortgro).
Thanks to abundant rain and low temperatures, the 2021/22 season of South African pears yielded excellent fruit setting and quality, with production estimated at a record 495,000 tonnes
.
Based on the three-year average yield and zero growth in planted area, South African pear production is expected to decline by 9% to 450,000 tonnes in the 2022/23 season
.

 

Exports of South African pears for the 2022/23 season are expected to fall by 11% to 250,000 tonnes
due to lower production.
The main export markets for South African pears are the Netherlands, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, India and the United Kingdom
.
South Africa signed a food safety protocol with China at the end of last year, and South Africa was finally allowed to export pears
to China.
In September this year, the first container of South African pears arrived in China, and the second container also arrived
soon.
The success of the trial could pave the way for larger exports in the future and build market awareness
for South African pears in China.

 

Table grapes

 

Table grapes are the second largest deciduous fruit in South Africa, accounting for almost 30%
of the total deciduous fruit cultivation area.
The area planted with table grapes in South Africa for the 2021/22 season is estimated at 20,379 hectares, and the 2022/23 season is expected to be the same as the
previous season.
Since 2010, driven by growth in export earnings, table grape cultivation has increased significantly, at around 20,000 hectares, but the availability of irrigation water limits the expansion
of plantings.

 

South Africa's table grape production is estimated at a record 380,000 tonnes in 2021/22, with a slight reduction in planted area and a three-year average production forecast of 8% to 350,000 tonnes based on a slight reduction in planted area and a three-year average production estimate,
assuming normal weather.
The new high-yielding varieties of the 2021/22 season entered full fruiting and the weather conditions were suitable for most of the time, which contributed to the record production
.

 

South Africa's table grape exports are expected to fall by 8% to 350,000 tonnes due to forecasted lower production in the 2022
/23 season.
South Africa's table grape exports rose 4% in the 2021/22 season to an all-time high of
335,750 tonnes.
But rising shipping costs, shipping delays, pandemic control measures in China and inefficiencies at the Port of Cape Town, through which approximately 95% of table grapes are exported, are putting enormous pressure on
the industry.
According to the South African Table Grape Industry Association (SATI), South Africa exported 321,770 tonnes of table grapes in 2020/21, up 13%
from 284,280 tonnes in 2019/20.
Europe is South Africa's main export market for table grapes, accounting for about 75%
of its total exports.
Exports to Asia, the Middle East and Africa also have strong growth potential and are a focus
for the South African table grape industry.