After nearly a decade of negotiations, newly approved export conditions for South African citrus going to India have been established. The Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) of Southern Africa and South Africa’s Department of Agriculture (DoA) announced Aug. 17 that India has approved the inclusion of additional treatment options for fresh citrus fruit from South Africa.
South Africa already exports citrus to India with various treatments for fruit flies. Additional fruit fly cold treatment options that have been approved reportedly will allow for the quality of fruit in the market to improve and add important logistical flexibility.
The CGA and DoA stated that India represents significant potential for South African citrus. They noted that India has a population of approximately 1.47 billion people and one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. Despite this, India’s share of exports from South Africa is very small and thus presents an exceptional opportunity for growth.
The CGA and DoA added that India is one of the world’s largest citrus producers. South Africa’s counter-seasonal production provides an opportunity to complement India’s domestic supply particularly as the middle class expands, health-conscious consumption grows and demand for mandarin-type citrus increases.
CGA CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele said attention should now shift toward improving the commercial conditions under which South African citrus enters the Indian market. According to the CGA and DoA, most-favored-nation tariffs of approximately 25% to 30% continue to place South African citrus at a disadvantage compared with Southern Hemisphere competitors benefiting from preferential tariff arrangements.
“We look forward to working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the critical task of addressing these tariff barriers and improving the competitiveness of South African citrus in the Indian market going forward,” said Ntshabele.
The CGA sees combining improved phytosanitary market access with more competitive tariff conditions as keys to growing South Africa’s citrus presence in India.
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