With just 100 000 cartons of the estimated 19.9 million 15Kg cartons of lemons still to pack, the final volume should fall just 3% below the March estimate – well done Lemon Focus Group. The 2018 lemon crop packed for export will be a record – just shy of 1 million cartons more than the 2017 volume.
Not only was the total almost on estimate – so were many of the regional estimates. The biggest region (Sundays River) at 8.65 million cartons was 1.7% over budget; Senwes at 4.13 m cartons was 8% under estimate; while Boland at 1.2 m cartons is 4% under estimate.
There were some shifts in export destinations of southern African lemons in regional terms. The Middle East decreased in both absolute terms (7.5 m cartons in 2017 to 6.7 m in 2018) and percentage terms (40% to 35%). This was also the case in South East Asia where volumes decreased from 3 m (2017) to 2.3 m (2018). Europe picked up some of this fruit (from 3.8 m to 5.6m, from 20% in 2017 to 29% in 2018); as did the UK – 1.4 m (7%) to 1.7 m (9%). Russia also experienced a slight drop – from 2 m (11%) in 2017 to 1.8 m (9%) in 2018; while North America increased from 0.8 m to 0.9 m (4 to 5%). With respect to individual countries Netherlands (3.2 million 15 Kg cartons) has surpassed UAE (3 m). Saudi Arabia (1.9 m) is just ahead of Russia (1.8 m), with UK (1.6 m) rounding out the top five.
Most sources list limes and lemons together. With respect to export volumes, it is safe to assume that Mexico is predominantly limes, leaving Spain as number one global lemon exporter (0.55 m tonnes). Turkey (0.45 m tonnes) follows at number two, while South Africa and Argentina alternate at three and four (between 0.25 and 0.3 million tonnes).
DAFF citrus coordinating meeting
Congratulations to Ernest Phoku and his team from DAFF – professional and thorough presentations as the citrus industry embraces a true public-private partnership. These coordinating meetings started many years back – and initially the challenge was to get industry to attend. The challenge now is to get the industry to RSVP – the 90 that did send confirmation of attending was far short of the over 240 who filled the hall at Loskop Forever resort. A great turnout from industry – with all elements of the value chain in attendance.
For those who could not attend DAFF will now take this information on a roadshow; please RSVP (asseblief) so that we can ensure the venues can accommodate you: 30/10 Tzaneen Country Lodge 09h00; 31/10 Hoedspruit Hengel Klub 10h00; 1/11 Nelspruit CRI Board room 09h00; 5/11 KZN FPT Training room 09h00; 6/10 Africanos Sundays River at 09h00 and 8/11 Stellenbosch ARC Nietvoorbij at 09h00.
For more information:
Justin Chadwick
Citrus Growers Association
Tel: +27 83 654 9591
Email: justchad@iafrica.com
www.cga.co.za