South Africa to set citrus export record

Despite ongoing challenges, South Africa is set to break its citrus export record of 2.7 million tons in the 2021/22 season. Favourable weather conditions, new areas under production and higher demand in premium markets, such as the US, are driving the growth in exports. Duty-free exports of citrus to the US under the African Growth Opportunity Act reached a historic high of 100,234 tons in 2021, according to data published by the USDA. However, several challenges the industry faces several challenges, including soaring input costs, a major surge in shipping costs, ongoing operational challenges at the country’s ports, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on established trading patterns. These issues threaten the profitability and sustainability of the industry and could limit future investments.