Johannesburg, South Africa — January 2026
South Africa’s fruit sector delivered record export volumes in 2025, defying rising input costs, policy uncertainty, and persistent logistics bottlenecks at key ports. Industry data shows that strong offshore demand, expanded market access, and targeted logistical improvements helped growers maintain export momentum despite mounting operational pressures.
Citrus Leads with Record Export Volumes
The citrus industry recorded its highest-ever export season, with 203.4 million 15kg-equivalent cartons shipped in 2025. This figure was 19% above the April forecast and 22% higher than 2024, according to the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA).
Exports were supported by robust global demand for processing-grade juicing oranges and lemons, an earlier-than-usual end to Northern Hemisphere supply, and improved performance at Transnet-managed logistics corridors during peak export weeks.
Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, Chief Executive Officer of the CGA, cautioned that volumes alone do not reflect the full health of the sector.
“Volume is just one single measure with which to assess an industry,” Ntshabele said. “Our growers continue to face unpredictable price and market dynamics, rising input costs, and market access challenges such as high tariffs and unscientific plant-health measures.”
Tariffs Reshape Market Strategies
Trade policy uncertainty added complexity to the season. Following the imposition of 30% U.S. import tariffs on South African produce under the Trump administration, exporters in the Western Cape and Northern Cape—the only provinces shipping fruit to the United States—accelerated shipments ahead of the tariff deadline.
Subsequently, oranges were exempted from the tariffs, while mandarins remained subject, prompting exporters to adjust product and destination strategies mid-season.
Strong Performance Across Citrus Categories
Export growth was broad-based across citrus varieties:
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Mandarins: up 28% year-on-year to 53.5 million cartons, 19% above April estimates
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Lemons: 41.3 million cartons, 26% above forecast and 19% higher than 2024
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Valencia oranges: 61.8 million cartons
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Navel oranges: 31.5 million cartons
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Grapefruit: 15.3 million cartons
Industry analysts noted that lemons and mandarins continued to benefit from structural demand growth in Asian and Middle Eastern markets, partly insulating growers from tariff-related volatility elsewhere.
Deciduous Fruit Expands Global Footprint
Beyond citrus, South Africa strengthened its position in deciduous fruit exports, becoming the largest apple exporter in the Southern Hemisphere, expanding pear shipments to India, and securing new market access to China for several stone-fruit categories.
According to Hortgro, these gains were achieved despite ongoing challenges, including port inefficiencies, stricter phytosanitary requirements, and climate-related disruptions that complicated production planning and export scheduling.
Table Grapes Hit by Port Delays
The table grape sector posted more modest growth. By early December, exporters projected shipments of 79.4 million 4.5kg-equivalent cartons, 0.6% above the previous season. However, severe weather-related disruptions at the Port of Cape Town undermined export flows.
The port recorded 414 hours of wind-related delays during the season, including 66 hours in week 48 alone. A concurrent system outage further constrained vessel loading, eroding earlier productivity improvements. Table grapes were excluded from U.S. tariff exemptions announced in November, adding further pressure on exporters.
Strategic Shift Toward Market Diversification
Throughout 2025, industry bodies and government agencies intensified efforts to diversify export markets, particularly in Asia, while seeking tariff reductions in existing destinations. Parallel discussions focused on expanding refrigerated container (reefer) plug capacity at Cape Town harbour—an infrastructure constraint widely viewed as critical to sustaining future export growth.