Up until last year, South Africa was able to export more and more fresh fruit annually. In the first half of this year, however, exports remained even. Usually, a little less than half of the annual total is realized in the first half of the year. The Netherlands is by far the most important buyer of South African fruit. Exports to the Netherlands did grow further this year (+7%). The Netherlands' share in the total export of fresh fruit from South Africa grew to over a quarter. The United Kingdom is the second largest buyer. In the first half of this year, exports there shrank by 4%.
The United Arab Emirates is the third buyer and exports to this country show an upward trend. In the first half of this year, exports to the United Arab Emirates grew further, by as much as 11%. Exports to Russia, on the other hand, declined sharply. In the first half of this year, as much as a third less fresh fruit from South Africa went to Russia than in the first half of last year.
Other real growth markets for South African fruit are: Canada, Malaysia, the United States and India. Growing in the first half of this year, but not the years before are: China, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Iraq.
Half to Europe
By region, the EU is by far the most important for South African fruit sales. Last year, 1.3 million tons was be exported to EU countries. In the first half of this year, exports continued to grow. The rest of Europe is the second largest buyer by a distance. Exports to Russia, in particular, were sharply down in the first half of this year. South African fruit is also increasingly going to countries in South and East Asia, with exports to these regions totalling 330,000 tons in the past year. There was very modest growth in the first half of this year. Gulf countries accounted for 530,000 tons of exports in 2021. In the first half of this year, exports grew slightly. 230,000 tons of fresh fruit was exported To North America last year. In the first half of this year, exports there grew by 10%.
South Africa also exports quite a lot to other African countries; last year the amount reached almost 360,000 tons. In the first half of this year, exports to countries on the home continent grew by more than 10%. Less citrus and more apples and grapes. Over the whole year, oranges are South Africa's most important export product when it comes to fresh fruit. Followed at a distance by apples, mandarins, lemons grapes, grapefruit and pears. In the first half of the year, apples, lemons and grapes are the most important. Exports of grapes (+10%) and apples (+9%) fared particularly well; exports of lemons increased slightly (+2%) during this period.
On the contrary, citrus exports in the first half of the year were smaller than in the same period of 2021; oranges -29%, grapefruit -16% and mandarins -9%. However, exports of pears, plums and avocados increased in the first half of the year. The trend in exports to the Netherlands understandably shows the same picture, namely large increases for lemons (+67%!), grapes, pears, avocados and plums. South African exports of citrus (excluding lemons) to the Netherlands showed large decreases.
Click here for the background figures
For more information:
Jan Kees Boon
Fruit and Vegetable Facts
www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com
fruitvegfacts@gmail.com