A South African delegation, under the leadership of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, examined St. Petersburg's port infrastructure. A modern terminal capable of storing 11,000 tons of fruit was highlighted during the visit.
The delegation's arrival coincided with the unloading of a fruit shipment from South Africa on a specialized refrigerated vessel. This cargo included citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and mandarins, along with apples, pears, and avocados.
Discussions between the parties involved potential expansion in bilateral cooperation, specifically in logistics and agro-industrial initiatives. Mashatile emphasized the relevance of agriculture-related collaboration between South Africa and Russia.
South Africa plays a key role in supplying fresh fruit to the Russian market, particularly citrus fruit, which contributes to at least a third of Russia's demand. Seasonal and climatic differences mean South African products are complementary to, rather than competitive with, Russian produce during winter and spring.
Since diplomatic relations were established in 1992, direct deliveries have reached an annual shipment volume of 300,000 tons. More than 100 entities, including South African producers and exporters as well as Russian distributors, are active in this trade exchange.
St. Petersburg receives over 80% of these shipments without involving transit ports. Notably, six specialized vessels arrived in June. During the delegation's visit, one vessel unloaded 5,000 tons of fruit, underscoring the ongoing collaboration.
Source: TV BRICS