South African summer citrus sets record
South African summer citrus sets record
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ -- South African citrus export volumes to the United States have exceeded expectations for the season, according to Piet Smit, managing director of the Western Cape Citrus Producers' Forum.
As of Sept. 16, South African citrus exports to the United States were up 16 percent from a year ago, setting an all-time volume high for Navel oranges. When the season started in late June, a normal crop and normal marketing volumes were expected this season, Mr. Smit told The Produce News in an interview at the Western Cape's Gloucester City office, which overlooks the Delaware River.
"It was a good year for us," said Mr. Smit, who added that the season's last vessel -- a breakbulk ship -- bearing South African citrus is due in mid- October. ""We had more oranges and Navels than we ever had before."
A record-high volume of 1.9 million boxes of South African Navels received in the United States was realized by mid-September. That volume represented two-thirds of the boxes earmarked for the United States, with the remainder coming on three more shipments. The mid-October finale will be the ninth vessel to arrive this summer, with all shipments coming into Delaware River ports.
South African clementine volume to the United States will be down slightly in 2008, and Midknight Valencia oranges will also be down.
Mr. Smit said that "very little" South African citrus was shipped to the West Coast this year. Australian citrus is shipped into West Coast ports and tends to dominate that summer citrus market.
Mr. Smit said that citrus production in the Western Cape is mostly steady. The increased production there is in late-variety Navels and late-producing clementines.
South Africa can't compete economically with California citrus, so South African marketers clear the supply line before California enters. "We know what we need to sell on a weekly basis and what inventory we have per size, per importer," Mr. Smit said. "It's a wonderful marketing scheme."
The season has brought a mix of containerized and larger-volume breakbulk deliveries from South Africa. This was the first year for containers to be utilized in such a manner in the citrus business. That move bore "teething problems," Mr. Smit said. The three container carriers used this year -- Maersk, SAF and Mediterranean Shipping Co. -- are all "vigorously" working with the South Africans to make adjustments for smoother future operations. "We are thankful for their help."
Mr. Smit said that all South African citrus must undergo cold treatment upon arrival in the United States, so those phytosanitary issues prevent the containers from being used for direct deliveries to customers.
The increased U.S.-bound South African citrus volumes this year were due to both better-than-expected markets and more production volume than was anticipated. Despite South Africa's increased production and sales to the United States, shipments here accounted for about 20-25 percent of South Africa's total citrus export volume, which isn't much above the usual figure of 20 percent going to the United States.
The U.S. market "has grown for summer citrus as a category," he said. "This is in line with what we like to see."
As of Sept. 16, South African citrus exports to the United States were up 16 percent from a year ago, setting an all-time volume high for Navel oranges. When the season started in late June, a normal crop and normal marketing volumes were expected this season, Mr. Smit told The Produce News in an interview at the Western Cape's Gloucester City office, which overlooks the Delaware River.
"It was a good year for us," said Mr. Smit, who added that the season's last vessel -- a breakbulk ship -- bearing South African citrus is due in mid- October. ""We had more oranges and Navels than we ever had before."
A record-high volume of 1.9 million boxes of South African Navels received in the United States was realized by mid-September. That volume represented two-thirds of the boxes earmarked for the United States, with the remainder coming on three more shipments. The mid-October finale will be the ninth vessel to arrive this summer, with all shipments coming into Delaware River ports.
South African clementine volume to the United States will be down slightly in 2008, and Midknight Valencia oranges will also be down.
Mr. Smit said that "very little" South African citrus was shipped to the West Coast this year. Australian citrus is shipped into West Coast ports and tends to dominate that summer citrus market.
Mr. Smit said that citrus production in the Western Cape is mostly steady. The increased production there is in late-variety Navels and late-producing clementines.
South Africa can't compete economically with California citrus, so South African marketers clear the supply line before California enters. "We know what we need to sell on a weekly basis and what inventory we have per size, per importer," Mr. Smit said. "It's a wonderful marketing scheme."
The season has brought a mix of containerized and larger-volume breakbulk deliveries from South Africa. This was the first year for containers to be utilized in such a manner in the citrus business. That move bore "teething problems," Mr. Smit said. The three container carriers used this year -- Maersk, SAF and Mediterranean Shipping Co. -- are all "vigorously" working with the South Africans to make adjustments for smoother future operations. "We are thankful for their help."
Mr. Smit said that all South African citrus must undergo cold treatment upon arrival in the United States, so those phytosanitary issues prevent the containers from being used for direct deliveries to customers.
The increased U.S.-bound South African citrus volumes this year were due to both better-than-expected markets and more production volume than was anticipated. Despite South Africa's increased production and sales to the United States, shipments here accounted for about 20-25 percent of South Africa's total citrus export volume, which isn't much above the usual figure of 20 percent going to the United States.
The U.S. market "has grown for summer citrus as a category," he said. "This is in line with what we like to see."
