This development is mainly due to the persistent drought in the Western Cape, where three of the five production regions in South Africa are situated. The extreme heat and reduced water allocations to agriculture in the drought stricken production regions are impacting the harvest.
South African producers and exporters expect harvesting to continue with close to normal export volumes for the next 4 to 6 weeks. However, they foresee a shorter harvest period compared to previous years due to the drought and hotter than usual temperatures.
Producers are still committed to meet programs and contracted business with a focus on the well-known South African quality offering and taste.
Crop estimates are done in co-operation with industry experts who are in close contact with growers in all regions, with the expectation that the best information available was used. This structure enables SATI to be more responsive to in-season developments and deviations.