Joint statement from leading fruit bodies welcomes strategic investment at Transnet’s Cape Town Terminals ahead of grape, stonefruit, and apple and pear campaigns
In South Africa, Hortgro, Sati and FPEF have said that Transnet’s Cape Town Terminals – including both the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) and the Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal (CTMPT) – are preparing for a ”successful deciduous fruit export season” with a fleet boost of over 70 pieces of additional equipment and the appointment of more operators.
According to a joint statement from the fruit industry bodies, the strategic investment is intended to improve efficiency and streamline the export of table grapes, peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums, and cherries to international markets.
The country’s apple and pear harvests, starting in January, will continue exports throughout the year.
Last season, around 80 per cent of all deciduous fruit exports from South Africa were shipped from the Port of Cape Town.
Fruit industry leaders have welcomed the ”transparent and productive engagement” facilitated by Transnet’s local and national management, which they have said marked a ”collaborative turning point”.
The progress made to date to enhance infrastructure and machinery availability at the Port of Cape Town and Transnet’s commitment to continuing this progress was encouraging, they stated.
However, industry representatives cautioned that the impact of these improvements would only fully materialises over the medium to long term.
The fruit industry has also engaged with the Western Cape minister of agriculture, economic development and tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, with the industry bodies noting they appreciated the support of the Western Cape government in taking a solutions-driven approach to solving lingering challenges in Cape Town.
In reality, growers, exporters, and logistical service providers should still be ready to respond to challenges that may arise during the export season, the statement continued.
This could include implementing the use of alternative modes of shipping or shipping routes to alleviate the pressure on the Cape Town Container Terminal, to facilitate fruit reaching markets in the shortest possible time in the interest of servicing of clients, meeting programme deadlines, and ensuring quality fruit upon arrival.
Shipping lines had announced the addition of sailing routes this season, they said. This could play an important part in alleviating the pressure on Cape Town Container Terminal during peak export weeks.
In addition, alternative shipping methods, such as specialised reefer vessels, may again need to be utilised from December 2024 to April 2025.
”These options come with added costs but are some of the most effective methods available to industry to mitigate risk,” the organisations outlined.
Over the past few seasons, growers have suffered financially largely due to conditions beyond their direct control, including rising input costs, loadshedding and challenges at the port.
While it was encouraging to see the progress made at the Port of Cape Town due to collaboration between industry and the Transnet since last season, the group continued, it would take time for the plans and actions already undertaken to filter down to ground and orchard level.
The fruit industry said it had realistic expectations about the coming season.
”Whilst challenges such as equipment breakdowns, staffing issues and adverse weather conditions may arise, the industry appreciates the efforts, planning, equipment and replacement resource allocation plans made by Transnet.
“Collaboration between Transnet and the fruit industry is ongoing with clear and achievable objectives,” the statement concluded.
