South African Ports 

In Cape Town port, FPT (South African private terminal) has acquired another reach stacker. This new equipment is less sensitive to wind, and this will assist with the exports of grapes and stone fruit this season, when there is a lot of wind during the summer period.   Durban Port is congested with 62 vessels waiting to berth. This is negatively effecting Mango exports, as Durban port will not be a viable alternative  option to consider on a weekly basis.  

Update on the market in the GCC countries 

In general, the overall market in the GCC countries is oversupplied with Royal Gala apples from the Northern Hemisphere. Price levels for oranges from South Africa are starting to increase, due to Egypt arriving later in the market than anticipated.

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

Citrus fruit – In general

Egypt has announced that their first Egyptian oranges will be in the market from 15 December, and not from the beginning of December.    

Market update

Increase in price levels for South African Valencias in the Middle East market, after the announcement that the first Egyptian Oranges will only be in the market from 15 December.

 Grapes -South Africa             

The packing of the first Early Sweet variety of white grapes from the Northern Cape started this week (week 47). Growers are target packing for the EU  for pre-Christmas arrivals. The season is 7-10 days later, however current season volumes look good. Namibia and the Limpopo area is expected to start packing Red globe grapes in week 50/51.    

Market update                        

The market is supplied with grapes from Egypt and Lebanon only, however grapes from Egypt should be out of the market by the beginning of December. Middle East – By the end of week 46, there have been no sea shipments to the Middle East compared to the same period last season , where a total of 37,387 cartons of early grapes was shipped.

Stone Fruit – South Africa 

Due to the strong winds in the Western Cape, there were a few isolated incidences where some growers lost volumes of apricots and plums that were blown off the trees. Nectarines – Yellow flesh seems to be smaller in size, while white flesh is larger in size. Apricots – Al though the crop is down this season, sizing is good.

Cherries  

Cherries are in full swing from South Africa and going into the peak weeks of packing from next week (week 48) until week 50. Chile – Volumes are going down due to the recent rains in Chile. The estimated updated volume is 81,4 million cartons (5kg equivalent), and this is lower than last season. However, the estimated volume might be reduced even further.

Market update 

The Middle East market is supplied with cherries from Australia and South Africa, and Chile will also start making arrival in the market.

Mangoes

The early season mangoes have moved out by 1-2 weeks and will start by week 49-50 for export.

Market update

The Middle East is supplied with mangoes from Egypt, Kenya, and Australia. Yemen will start making arrival in the market in December and will compete with the early Tommy Atkins variety in the market.

India

No report.

Bangladesh

No report.