The Southern Hemisphere table grape season has been described as “the most pleasant in years”
During what some exporters described as the ”most pleasant” table grape season in many years, South Africa grew its export crop by 5 per cent, shipping a record volume of 77.4mn cartons.
A feature of the season was that the volume of grapes moved through the port of Cape Town increased substantially, indicating a fairly smooth logistics operation.
The volume of exports through the Cape Town Container Terminal and Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal combined increased from 82 per cent (10 per cent conventional) of total exports in 2023/24 to a 90 per cent (7 per cent conventional) share this season
At the same time, grapes shipped through Eastern Cape ports decreased from 11 per cent of total exports in 2023/24 to 6 per cent this year, while volumes through Durban fell from 7 per cent to 3 per cent.
This year 1 per cent of South African volumes were shipped through Walvis Bay compared with nothing last year.
Namibia, the other Southern African table grape export country, packed and shipped a total 8.8mn cartons of table grapes, compared with 9.1mn cartons in the previous season.
Sati revealed that among South Africa’s major competitors, Peru ended this season with about 147mn cartons compared with 114mn in 2024.
“Chile is still busy packing and by the end of Week 13 they had packed 90.7mn cartons, compared to 83.8mn at the same time last year, which is an increase of 8 per cent,” the industry body noted.
Despite this, exporters said it was a one of the best Southern Hemisphere grape export seasons in years.
That was according to Marc de Naeyer of Trofi-Tropenfruchtimport, who presented a marketing overview at Sati’s final marketing sessions of the season.
“The 2024/25 Southern Hemisphere table grape export season was probably one of the most pleasant seasons in recent years,” he said.
“The season started with favourable prices for grapes exported to Europe due to early product shortages.
“Improved logistics supported the steady arrival of grapes from South Africa to Europe which helped affirm South Africa’s reputation as a reliable supplier to this market,” he continued.
”Peru increased grape shipments into Europe in response to lower supplies from Brazil (which experienced torrential rains) and the decision to divert shipments away from the USA in anticipation of a potential strike at USA ports which was later averted.”
De Naeyer noted that this increased grape supplies into the European market. In response retailers implemented in-store campaigns which saw prices moderate from the high levels achieved at the start of the season.
Sati’s chief executive Mecia Petersen noted that South African table grape producers and exports faced an increasingly competitive market.
“This emphasises the need to keep focusing on quality and maintaining South Africa’s reputation as a consistent and reliable supplier of quality fruit,” she said.
”This focus helped to position South Africa well over the last few seasons to increase USA exports, however, the industry needs tariffs that will enable it to compete on an equal footing with countries such as Peru and Chile.”
