The South African Table Grape Industry (SATI) has announced that the country's grape exports dropped significantly in 2011, with the final export volume being 13 per cent below last year's level. While growers packed close to 50m cartons, only 44.7m was exported.
This represented the lowest table grape export crop for years, and growers across the country are said to be struggling because of this very difficult year.
'Flooding in the Orange River and the Northern Province, vessels delayed due to strong winds, the strong rand, fuel price increases, electricity increasing by another 25.8 per cent – these are just some of the challenges the industry faced during 2010/2011 table grape season,' said SATI in its final report on the export season. 'Exports fell by 13 per cent compared to the 2009/2010 season, while the number of cartons packed by growers was down by 7 per cent compared to last year.'
Only the Berg River region managed to register positive growth, of 3 per cent, while the Orange River and Northern Province registered double digit drops of 17 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.
SATI, meanwhile, said that while exports to most regions of the world declined this year, shipments to South East Asia were 26 per cent up when compared with the previous year. Exports to the UK dropped by nearly 3m cartons and northern Europe by 4m cartons compared with last year.
SATI noted that the shortages in fruit exported to northern Europe and the UK from the Southern Hemisphere countries between week 1 and week 10 resulted in wholesale market prices being consistently higher than last season, lasting until Chile entered the market with significant volumes around week 11.
Reports indicated that Chile's exports to the EU during their 2010/2011 season increased by 40 per cent while the country's production increased by only 10 per cent. SATI said that Peru continued with its growth, and during their 2010/2011 season the country's exports increased by 34 per cent. Reports indicate that around 1,000-1500ha are planted in Peru each year.
SATI's final warp-up of the season came as the South African grape industry was still reeling from the shock of the death of South African grape farm manager, Andre le Roux, in Egypt. Mr Le Roux was accompanying two Dole South Africa staff members on what was for him an exposure visit to Egypt. The three men were on their way to Cairo for their return flight to South Africa when the incident occurred.
Dole South Africa expressed shock at what it called a violent attack on the three men. Mr Le Roux was fatally wounded when gunmen opened fired on their vehicle as they left a farm at Balbeis about 50km north of Cairo.
Veteran grape industry technologist Wietz Botes was also injured in the attack but has since then returned to South Africa. While Mr Botes is reported to be deeply traumatised by the incident, he is already back at work, visiting Dole South Africa suppliers at Komsberg in Southern Namibia.
Elsewhere, the Orange River region this week faces the unusual prospect of a 'winter flood' because the Orange River is experiencing its third flood of the year. Unusually heavy winter rain over the country's central, southern and eastern regions have left many rivers bursting their banks. A 6.5m flood is expected to reach the Orange River today (14 June).
