The start of the Insimbi Ridge cargo facility at Cato Ridge in Kwa-Zulu-Natal is seen as a major advancement for South Africa’s northern citrus export corridor, which provides access to the Port of Durban export terminal.

Northern citrus regions produced a combined 93.6mn cartons for export during the 2025 season, an increase of 16.6mn cartons on the 2023 season, of which 77mn cartons were exported.

The combined growth projection for this region, aligned with the crop projection model and Vision 260, suggests that a potential 105mn cartons will be produced for export by 2030.

Mitchell Brooke, the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) logistics development manager, said the Cato Ridge is set to become a cold storage and multimodal transport mega hub for the industry.

“Both long distance and short distance road and rail opportunities will be implemented that will surely see a radically modernised citrus logistics chain in Durban,” he noted.

“A modernised container depot will also be developed to supply empty reefer containers to the cold stores located in the precinct as well as extensive reefer plug in capacity.

”There are incredibly optimistic opportunities both for the PBS and Rail Runner applications to this precinct should they be developed and implemented,” Brooke explained.

The Cato Ridge project started this week with a soil-turning event.

The project by the FTP group is a substantial investment in KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics and infrastructure sector.

Its state-of-the-art 33,000m2 inland cold and general storage facility holds immense promise for the citrus industry, according to the CGA.

Recent investments in logistics infrastructure in Cato Ridge are significant. For example, in June this year the Maersk Cato Ridge Cold Store opened.

This 10,000-pallet facility, situated across from a container depot, had a successful first citrus season.

Cato Ridge is ideally situated as a logistics connector, as it borders on the N3 highway.

Although currently about 90 per cent of citrus exports is moved to port by truck, Cato Ridge offers scope for much greater rail connectivity.

Considered alongside recent announcements by government that 11 private sector operators were awarded 41 rail routes across six corridors, this bodes well for increased rail movement – a form of shipping that is not only economical but more climate-friendly too.

Around 40 per cent of South Africa’s citrus originates in Limpopo and must travel nearly 850km to Durban, so improved rail access is essential.

The CGA said the logistics landscape in KwaZulu-Natal is being redefined with the development of this state-of-the-art cold storage facility and logistics hub.

It welcomed several recent developments in the geographical area, which is central to the improvement of not only citrus exports but South Africa’s export economy in general.