South Africa citrus export forecast revised downward

South Africa's citrus industry has revised its export forecast downward for the current season. The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) now projects exports of approximately 205 million 15kg cartons, a reduction from the previous estimate of roughly 209.5 million cartons.

Growers are facing multiple economic and logistical pressures, including unfavorable weather, new tariffs in the United States, and fluctuating exchange rates. Conflict in the Middle East has significantly impacted the industry, as the region typically accounts for 19% of South African citrus exports. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have forced rerouting, resulting in longer shipping journeys, increased costs, and potential risks to fruit quality.

Specific variety projections show mixed results. Mandarin estimates have decreased, and grapefruit projections have been lowered by 11% to 14 million cartons. Conversely, the lemon season has seen an estimated 12% increase over original projections, reaching 51.3 million cartons.