South Africa: Avocado volumes increase despite hail

As the South African avocado harvest gets underway, we can see from the table that the export volumes have not changed much since 2010, but the figures do not tell the full story. Avocados have an on-year and an off-year. 2013 for example was an off year, but the volumes were not much below those of the previous year. 2014 saw a big jump from the previous year, a combination of an on-year and increased planting.

The estimated export volume this year is slightly up on last year at 12.8 million cartons compared to 12.55 million in 2015. It should have been a much bigger volume but the avocado crop was hit by hail at the end of last year and in February this year and although some areas were devastated others saw no damage at all.

Derek Donkin CEO of industry body, Subtrop explained that volumes this year should have been much higher than last year which was an off-year, "In 2014 we did 15 million cartons and last year 12.55 million despite it being an off-year so had we not had the hail damage the export volume would probably have been in the region of 15.5 million cartons. "

Although it has rained in recent weeks in the north of the country, which will definitely be beneficial to the avocado crop regarding sizing this year and will improve prospects for next year, growers are not out of the woods yet.

"As far as the avocado crop is concerned there has been enough water to bring the crop to maturity and recent rains have replenished diminishing water supplies to some extent but we hope that we will get more before the winter. The heat has been good for quality, but at the moment it is difficult to say how it will go with sizing as we have to wait and see the positive effects of the rain," explains Derek.

Europe remains the main destination for South Africa's avocados, although some does go to the Middle East and to Africa. There is an increasing demand in all these markets, all be it from a low base in the Middle East.

The current acreage of avocados in South Africa is 15500 ha, Derek estimates this will grow by around 500 ha a year for the coming years, although there are no long term projections. He does not foresee any problems in available land with water rights.

At the moment there is a 18-24 month wait for new trees, the nurseries are not sitting on any stock so when someone orders new plants they have to be grown from scratch.

For more information:
D

erek Donkin
South African Subtropical Growers Association
Tel: +27 15 307 3676
Email: derek@subtrop.co.za
www.subtrop.co.za