South Africa is expecting another record season for Citrus in 2021 and estimates have been revised further upwards to a total of 162 million cartons of which a high percentage will be driven by late mandarins.

The main challenge this season will be in meeting the citrus industry’s demand for reefer containers due to the ongoing worldwide challenge in the repositioning of reefer equipment to places around the world where they are needed. One of the reasons for this is the high demand including high freight rates out of China to the USA, South America and the EU. Many containers are being shipped from the USA, South America, EU and back to China due to the high demand from China for protein products since the Swine Flu pandemic in China. The high volume of containers in China is causing a massive shortage of equipment in South Africa as well as other parts of the world.

• Citrus
• Pome
• Grape, Stone & Kiwi Fruit
• India & Bangladesh
• PPECB Statistics

The latest update on Lemon inspections passed for export YTD by the end of week 14 was down by -5% to all countries.

Lemon prices remain at a high level in the GCC countries  from South Africa and this can be contributed to the fact that the market is not currently oversupplied with lemons .Volumes shipped from South Africa are down compared to the same period last season. 

Shipped YTD from South Africa

Lemons to the Middle East – decrease of 42% on cumulative volumes shipped to date compared to the 2020 season.

Grapes

Chile is at the tail-end of their table grape season with some late Autumn Royal, Crimson and Red Globe varieties being harvested. With the heavy rains experienced in January a huge volume of the   table grape crop was lost. Estimated volumes are likely to be below 60 million cartons which is considerably lower than the 73 million cartons shipped in 2020 and far off from the targeted estimate of 84 million cartons expected for the 2021 season. By the end of week 13, Grape inspections passed for export was -18% down compared to the same period last season.

Market update – Chilean grapes: Increase in price levels of Red Globe grapes from Chile in the GCC countries and this can be contributed to lower volumes available.

Stone fruit

In Dubai, there has been an increase in price levels of Red plums from South Africa during week 15.  Price levels for Nectarines remain under pressure and this is due to an oversupply in the market. In Saudi Arabia the first Angelino Black plums from Chile have made arrival.

General update – Stone fruit in France: In France, the frost experienced last week has had a disastrous effect on the fruit sector and many farmers have lost crops due to the freezing weather.  One of the sectors affected is Stone fruit and in particular Apricots and Peaches.  When the season starts in a couple of months, supply will be low and prices levels will be high as a result of this.

Shipped YTD from South Africa

Plums to the Middle East – increase of 56% on cumulative volumes shipped to date compared to the 2020 season.

India

India is imposing more and more stringent lock down measures each day. The affect of lock downs is that fruit like Plums and Grapes do not sell at all. Pear prices are decreasing by $1 every week although there are only limited volumes. Apples prices are still maintaining but the lock down has slowed down the volumes that are sold each day. The markets will be difficult until lock down levels start easing.

Bangladesh

Already under strict lockdown, further restrictions are being imposed in various parts of the country to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The beginning of Ramadan saw a slight improvement in sales, with the Apple market in Dhaka showing better improvement than others.

Banks are operating on greatly reduced hours during this lockdown.