According to the South African Dried Fruit Technical Services representative, weather conditions for raisins were ideal, with rains occurring around the end of December, which damaged some table grapes and diverted them to raisins. Following this, drying conditions were excellent and grape prices for
raisins were stronger than for wine production along the Orange River Valley, where raisins are primarily produced. This has lead to a record crop in Marketing Year 2012/2013 of 55,600. However, post notes the pace of exports in calendar year 2013, as of June, are slightly behind 2012, meaning
South Africa will have to accept lower prices in the second half of the year to meet export goals, or face increased ending stocks at the end of the year.
