New report by the Citrus Growers’ Association identifies areas in which logistics and distribution must change
Collaborative and innovative methods of transportation and distribution will be required to grow South Africa’s citrus exports in the coming years, according to a new study.
The State of Logistics Report was written by Mitchell Brooke, logistics development manager at the country’s Citrus Growers Association. In it, he highlights various challenges and developments in Southern Africa’s citrus export logistics during the past year, and identifies certain key issues that must be addressed.
Those include underperforming rail infrastructure, road quality concerns, port inefficiencies, disruptions from weather, and geopolitical factors.
Despite these various constraints, investments in cold storage and rail infrastructure are expected to lead to much-needed improvements in the near future.
For Brooke, that evolution is vital – especially given the country’s expected increase in production volume over the coming decade.
“Going forward, focus must be placed on the fact that a significant number of citrus orchards have been planted across Southern Africa in recent years and this will at some point transfer to a significant increase in production and exports once the cycle meets more favourable conditions on all fronts,” he writes. “Importantly, the corridors’ supply chains must be ready for this eventuality.”
