Compared to last season, South Africa’s citrus export volumes to China decreased significantly. However, the slack was taken up by increased demand from Europe. According to Neil Wan from TopSun Fresh, an importer of citrus into China, volumes to Europe have increased dramatically compared to the previous year, with stronger prices. However, the Chinese market struggled with grapefruit prices and movements, most notably in retail markets.
Compared to the last season, export volumes of oranges to China have decreased by 40%, driven by the slight decrease in production in South Africa. The main reason for the decrease is that Europe has been a very strong buyer from the start of the season.
Recent natural disasters in northern China have affected consumer spending, but the overall consumption of imported citrus is trending upwards. Supermarkets are still paying premium prices for quality products.
Source: freightnews.co.za
