Growers are emerging from one of their most challenging export seasons in many years. The winter months are usually when new plans are made for expanding the business, but this year it is going to be a very tough period for South African stonefruit growers.
Exporters have referred to the season as the toughest in many years.
“There will be casualties and some may not be there next year,” one leading exporter commented.
Since then, the recent floods have caused further problems for some stonefruit growers, and the Gulf war presents new issues in terms of increased cost.
Despite the recent damage, the outcome of the campaign will dominate discussions in the off-season.
Prior to the season industry organisations expected a rise of 6 per cent in stonefruit export volumes compared with the previous year.
Nectarines were expected to be the star of the show with an 18 per cent increase, with more modest rises for plums and peaches and a slight decrease for apricots.
That was until the port and general logistics problems hit the industry from mid-December, and exporters said they never really recovered from suspect quality fruit arriving in the markets, often on three vessels in the same week.
“Something has to be done,” said leading exporters and growers. “This cannot happen again – we cannot deal with another season like this.”
The winter of discontent will last for some time and there will be great pressure on the port authorities in Cape Town to get things right.
But there are also some stories of hope.
South Africa has gained new access into China, and the pre-Chinese New Year sales period is well suited for the South African export season.
Exporters say the access came too late this year to move more volumes, and they are also keen to do things right from the start and get fruit in the market that the Chinese consumers prefer.
“Our Sugar Plums were very well received, and this will be further expanded,” one exporter noted.
South African exporters and growers will also next year benefit from the zero-tariff policy of the Chinese government, which could make a major difference.
“In retrospect we should have shipped more plums to the USA, where the original 30 per cent tariffs were reduced to 10 per cent,” they added.
”So, there is a lot to be considered for next year, but for now we also need to contend with the fall-out of the Middle East war, and rampant cost rises for fuel and fertilisers.”
