South Africa’s Citrus Growers Association has revised its estimates for 2024 exports because of the bad weather that has affected orange producers. It expects to pack and ship 162.3-million 15kg cartons this year, a drop of 10.6% from its original estimate of 181.7-million cartons.
South Africa is the world’s second-largest citrus exporter in the world. It shipped a record 165.1-million cartons last year but bad weather in several citrus-growing regions – including the torrential rainfall in the Western Cape – have impacted crops.
The shortage has affected prices, which are reportedly 56% higher than this time last year.