The last conventional vessel of this year's summer citrus export season from South Africa to the US has arrived in Philadelphia. However, the next three container vessels from Cape Town will still carry small volumes as a sudden surge in demand at the end of the season has encouraged the shipment of more Midknight Valencias.
The last conventional vessel, Asian Orchid, carried mainly Midknights but also, significantly, the last late mandarins. Originally, industry leaders feared that the South African Midknight window in the US would be threatened by increased competition from Chile, but demand in the late season, and the fact that all other South African supplies of citrus have virtually been cleared, are now prompting extra shipments. The last container vessel carrying some 320 pallets will arrive in the US at the end of October.
Piet Smit, director of the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum, which is presently overseeing the arrival of the last shipments in Philadelphia, said that the last of the navels seem to be holding their own, with quality still good to exceptional.
'We had excellent quality this season, way better than in 2008,' he noted. 'The fruit on the shelves of the supermarkets and retailers looks nice and fresh and, more importantly, tastes good.'
Mr Smit said that, in order to stay competitive against other suppliers from the Southern Hemisphere, quality is one area that should never compromised on.
'I want to congratulate all importers who managed the South African product against stiff competition from Chile and Australia,' he said. 'The impact of the first year of navels from Chile was felt by South Africa, but even more so by Australia.
“With a strong end to the navel season, we now have a better than expected market for the Midknights to arrive in,' he added.
Mr Smit said the South African late mandarins did exceptionally well this season. 'We know this is an excellent product and it again proved itself this year. The last late mandarins on the Asian Orchid will sell like hot cakes.'
In total, South Africa's summer citrus producers shipped 33,195 pallets during 2009, around 1,000 pallets more than last year. The number of pallets shipped in the coordinated conventional reefer shipping programme increased slightly on last year, and the number of containers also showed a 10 per cent increase.