Overall decrease in demand and sales on all commodities after Eid. 

However, fruits from other countries will now compete in the market with local supply on commodities such as stone fruits, mangoes, grapes, and watermelons at low price levels.

South African ports

Transnet ports have programs in place aimed at improving equipment availability and reliability throughout the citrus season to avoid these issues as far as possible that was experienced last season.

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

Citrus fruit – South Africa

Middle East – There has been an increase of 19% on lemon volumes shipped from South Africa compared to the same period last season, while Star Ruby grapefruit is down by 26% compared to the same period last season.

The harvest and packing of the first navels have started in the northern areas but limited volumes, however volumes will start picking up in the next two weeks. The total Navel crop from South Africa is expected to be down for the 2023 season, with an estimate of 25.3 million cartons compared to 27.8 million cartons in the 2022 season.

The packing of the first Nova Soft citrus up North started last week  (week 16).

In General

Spain’s orange production is down by 32% compared to the 2022 season.

Market update

Continued downward trend in price levels for South African lemons in Saudi Arabia due to the re-exports from Dubai at lower price levels, and higher volumes of shipments from South Africa on-route to the market.

The market is currently supplied with navel oranges from Spain and Egypt. Spain is expected to finish earlier than anticipated and should finish in the next 2 weeks.

Lower demand and sales for Star Ruby from South Africa even with lower shipments to the market compared to the same period last season.

Grapes – Chile

Chile have finished with red globe grapes for the season.

Market update

Decrease in demand and market price levels after Eid on Red Globe grapes from Chile.

The market is supplied with grapes from Chile, Peru, and India.  Egypt will start with their first harvest in May.

Stone Fruit

No report.

Kiwi fruit

Limited volume of Kiwi fruit from Chile available to the Middle East market, due to the Chile being 15-20% down on volume this season.  Chilean kiwi fruit is already committed to programmes in other countries due to the shortage.

Market update

The Middle East market is currently supplied with Kiwi fruit from Iran, Greece, and Italy.

India

The pear market is very slow and customers will only take pears if they get apples. Apple market is very good due to Northern Hemisphere finishing earlier and much less Chilean Apples in the market. SA Royal Gala crop also down by 20% which will cause a slow down in apple supply from now to the end of season. SA will finish packing Royal Gala Apples earlier this year as well.

Bangladesh

Most customers are still coming back from their Eid holiday so the market is slow. Only by next week there will be a 100% movement on the market. The orange market is not performing as predicted, but at least the Chinese mandarin market is good. About 84 truck loads of Indian grapes arrived on the Dhaka market, which caused grape prices to drop drastically.