South Africa: Fresh Deciduous Fruit Semi-annual
Report Highlights:
Production and exports are expected to increase for all deciduous fruits in MY 2012 on excellent growing conditions and increased demand in non-traditional African and Middle Eastern export markets. Although the South African deciduous industry operates within a complex framework of
escalating input costs, a good production year, and a relatively weaker currency helped South African apple exports increase three percent in MY 2011. Pear exports were relatively flat in MY 2011, as demand is flat given pears lack the varietal diversity, compared to apples. Table grape exports were up six percent.
Executive Summary
Deciduous fruit is the largest sub-sector when measured in terms of hectares under plantation in South Africa. There are about 77,805 hectares of land carrying deciduous fruit in South Africa as reported in MY 2011 Hortgro Key Deciduous Fruit Statistics. Of the deciduous fruit grown about 33 percent are grapes (fresh and dried); the second most grown is apples at 29 percent; followed by pears at 15 percent; peaches (ten percent); plums (six percent); apricot (four percent) and nectarine (three percent).
The Western Cape is the traditional producer of deciduous fruit, however, in the past two decades; the Northern and Eastern Cape, and Limpopo provinces have become increasingly large producers of deciduous fruit. In terms of production ratings for Southern Hemisphere, South Africa ranks number four in apple production and number two in pear production.
