The South African export of fresh fruit and vegetables was 7% larger last year than that of 2014. In total 3.3 million tonnes were exported again 3.1 million tonnes in 2014. The record of 2011 of 3.4 million tonnes, wasn't reached. The export of fresh vegetables and fruit from South Africa had a value of 2.4 billion Euro (2.7 billion dollars). With this amount and value, South Africa has a place on the world ranking of fruit and vegetables exporters just outside of the top 10. As an exporter of fresh fruit excl. bananas South Africa is number five world wide.
A fifth to the Netherlands
The Netherlands is the main buyer of South African fresh vegetables and fruit. Around a fifth of the total goes to the Netherlands. The Netherlands is an especially important buyer for South African avocados, with almost three quarters of the total. Of the total export of grapes from South Africa, over 40% goes to the Netherlands. In citrus it is over 20%. The Netherlands is also an important buyer of pears, with almost a quarter. South African apples only go to the Netherlands in small amounts.
Almost half of oranges from South Africa
On the other hand South Africa is a very important supplier for the Netherlands. South Africa is even the main supplier before Spain. Almost half of the Dutch import of oranges comes from South Africa. In the import of grapes, pears and grapefruit it is a third. Of the total Dutch import of avocados a sixth is from South Africa. A lot of apples and plums also come from South Africa to the Netherlands, but the share remains under 10%.
Steady growth over the years
If the export to South Africa's neighbouring countries is disregarded, there is a constant growth. Over the last ten years the export (excl. neighbouring countries) grew by and average of 3% per year and even by an average of 5% per year over the last five years. The EU is the main buyer. IN 2015 the export to the EU grew by 10% compared to the year before. But over a longer period the export was below the average.
The export to the Netherlands grew to a level 623,000 tonnes in 2015. This was 4% more than in 2014. After the Netherlands, the United Kingdom is the second buyer of South African fruit and vegetables. The export to there grew by over 10% to 390,000 tonnes. A relatively high amount of apples (88,000 tonnes in 2015) and soft citrus (61,000 tonnes) go to the United Kingdom. Little (direct) South African fruit goes to other EU countries. The strong increase in the export to Portugal last year does stand out, at 68,000 tonnes compared to 50,000 tonnes in 2014.
Less to Russia despite boycott
The United Arab Emirates are South Africa's third buyer. In 2015 it was an amount of almost 250,000 tonnes. This was slightly more than in 2014.
In the years before this the export grew more strongly. Russia was still the third buyer of South African fruit in 2013. Then 240,000 tonnes were sold. Both in 2014 and last year the export decreased, to 190,000 over the last year. Saudi Arabia is the fifth buyer. The export to this country has been stable at a level over 130,000 tonnes in recent years. Malaysia, the number six, buys more each year: 110,000 tonnes in 2015. The most striking growth market is China. It must be kept in mind, however, that South Africa has been exporting a lot to Hong Kong for years. The export to Honk Kong stagnates at a level of around 100,000 tonnes. Over 67,000 tonnes of South African fruit now goes directly to China.
Oranges worth a third of the total
Oranges are the main South African export product by far. South Africa has been able to sell slightly more oranges abroad each year. Last year it was 1.16 million tonnes. The Netherlands is the main buyer but in 2015 the level of the year before was not reached. Apples is South Africa's second export product with an amount of 465,000 tonnes last year. Most apples from South Africa remain on their home continent. To what extent these figures give an accurate view is doubtful, as there are large swings from year to year. The export of apples to EU countries that were traditionally very important dropped in 2014 to only 90,000 tonnes. Last year this recovered, but 115,000 falls far short of the amounts going to the EU at the start of the century. In 2007 it was 195,000 tonnes.
More pears to the Arabian peninsula
Grapes are really growing within the South African export assortment. Last year South Africa was able to sell 324,000 grapes abroad, almost 10% more than in the year before. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom are worth two thirds of the total. Lemons, South Africa's fourth product, don't go much to EU countries. The Netherlands is the main buyer for grapefruit, but a relatively large amount of South African grapefruit goes to East Asia. The export of pears from South Africa was lower than the record of 2014. The Netherlands is still the main buyer, but the importance has dropped to only 23% in 2015. Less and less pears are also going to the United Kingdom. There is strong growth in the export of pears to the Arabian peninsula.
Fresh vegetables mainly to neighbouring countries
Soft citrus is a growth project. The export of this has steadily grown to 157,000 tonnes in the last year. The United Kingdom is the main sales market, followed by the Netherlands. The export of both plums and avocados remained behind that of 2014. This trend is mainly determined by the export to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for plums. In avocados it is mainly the export to the Netherlands that determines the total image. South Africa exports fresh vegetables, but in small amounts. Onions are the main product. The export is growing, to almost 110,000 tonnes in the last year. The South African onions almost all go to neighbouring countries. This also goes for the export of tomatoes: 27,000 tonnes in the last year.
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For more information:
Fruit & Vegetable Facts
Jan Kees Boon
+31 6 54 687 684
www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com
fruitvegfacts@gmail.com