An increase in market price levels for all oranges and mandarins including Valencias from Egypt can be contributed to Hajj sales. 

In Saudi Arabia, there was also a slight increase in pear prices.  Pears, apples, oranges, and bananas are the 4 main commodities that consumers buy for Hajj.

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

South Africa is halfway through the citrus season; however, packing is lagging behind. There have only been just over 62 million cartons (15kg) packed compared to 67 million cartons during the same time last year. South Africa is expected to export 166.8 million cartons this season compared to 161 million cartons last season. There is therefore a lot of citrus fruit that still needs to be packed and this will mostly be valencias, late mandarins, and some grapefruit.

Although citrus growers are expecting good volumes this season, they are faced with higher inflation-related costs, and higher transport costs, and certain regions are facing water shortages. There is also the ongoing issue of the European Union that will implement stricter import regulations for South African oranges to limit the entry of the False Codling Moth (FMC) pest.

Market update

Continued increases in market price levels and sales of all oranges and mandarins during Hajj, between the 07th-12th July. However, lemon sales remained stable with a slight decrease in price levels for South African lemons and a continued downward trend in prices for Star Ruby grapefruit.

There has been a decrease of 21% in oranges, 9% in lemons, and 9% of soft citrus shipped YTD from South Africa to the Middle East.

Update on Kiwi Fruit and a market update in the GCC countries

In Saudi Arabia, the market remained stable during this week for Kiwi fruit from Chile, however a decrease in the price of Gold Kiwi fruit from New Zealand.

India

The first SA navels made its arrival and sold at good prices. Unfortunately the SA navel crop this year is of marginal quality and that is why much less has been shipped to India.

Pear prices are still very low and the local Indian pear is on the market. Shipping delays (MSC) will cause SA apples to arrive very late in the market and will have to compete with the Local Indian Apple. Inflation is also still the silent killer with consumption dropping and thus filling up the supply chain with all fruits.

Bangladesh

No report due to EID holidays