South African citrus producers have received confirmation of export protocols allowing them to ship to Thailand and South Korea.
While access to these markets has been welcomed by the industry the protocols will throw up some challenges.
Access to the Thai market will incur a 40 per cent import tax. According to a report by Fresh Fruit Portal, South Africa’s Citrus Growers Association (CGA) is in talks with Thai officials to have this reduced. Australian oranges can enter the country tariff free, while the tariff on its mandarins is to be phased out by 2015.
The group's CEO Justin Chadwick said it has been a hard graft gaining access to Thailand.“Now, finally, after ten years a protocol has been signed and gazetted that confirms the procedures for exports to Thailand to commence. Thai officials visited South Africa in March this year. All that now remains is for this visit to confirm that the export certification procedure had been audited. Once this is confirmed, exports can begin.
The protocol for Korea, which covers lemons and grapefruit, involves a mandatory cold treatment period of 24 days at 0.06oC. This is particularly harsh for citrus fruit, which is normally shipped at higher temperatures than apples, pears, stonefruit and table grapes.
The CGA estimates grapefruit exports will be down this year by 22 per cent on initial estimates of 15.2m cartons (15kg).
