Fewer grapes packed but shipments still up compared with the same period last year
The South African table grape season is lagging behind original forecasts, but more grapes have been shipped than in the same period last year. The national crop estimate remains at 76.4mn cartons, an increase of about 1 per cent on the actual inspected volumes in the 2023/24 season.
South Africa’s industry organisation Sati said in its latest update on the season that by the end of week 50 10.99mn cartons had been inspected for export, a fall of 12.6 per cent on last year. This is mainly due to lower yields observed on some of the early varieties in certain parts of the Northern Provinces and Orange River Regions.
According to Sati, a total of 7.51mn cartons had been exported up until Week 50, 23 per cent more than in the year-earlier period.
Harvesting is now underway in all regions in South Africa. Sati noted that it had received positive feedback from stakeholders for the high degree of readiness at the Port of Cape Town this season. Productivity at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT), measured in terms of gross crane moves per hour (GCH), has increased markedly compared with the same time last year.
Elsewhere in Southern Africa, Namibia expects to export 9.3mn cartons this season, roughly in line with the 9.1mn cartons shipped last season. Up to Week 50, 7.58mn cartons were inspected for export, 10 per cent more than this time last year.
