South African

South African Orange and OJ Production Forecast

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) recently forecast production and trade for South African oranges and orange juice (OJ) in 2025–26. ORANGES South Africa’s 2025–26 orange production is forecast to increase by 1% from 2024–25, to 1,850 million metric tons (MMT). The orange planted area is projected to increase by 2% in 2025–26, reaching 46,000 hectares. Valencias …

South African

Surge in South African Citrus Exports

Daniel CooperExport, International, Trade

South African citrus growers packed 203.4 million 15-kilogram cartons for global markets in the 2025 export season. That’s a 19% increase from the original April estimate of 171.2 million cartons, and a 22% increase from 2024 exports. INCREASE IN ALL VARIETIES Final packed figures for 2025 are: GROWTH DRIVERS Driving the growth is a combination of favorable weather conditions in …

tariff

South Africa Applauds U.S. Tariff Exemption on Oranges

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) welcomed new U.S. tariff exemptions that include oranges. It stated that the new exemption is great news for the 2026 season, which starts around April. According to CGA, the exemption once again makes South African oranges competitive in the U.S. market, which holds opportunities for increased exports and local job creation. The …

concern

Mounting Concern for American Tariffs on South African Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) of South Africa expressed concern about newly proposed U.S. tariffs that threaten the viability of South African citrus exports to America. According to the association, a 30% tariff rate placed on South African citrus would put the industry at a significant disadvantage, since some other citrus-exporting countries face only a 10% levy. The association warned …

tariff

U.S. Tariff Threatens South African Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Trade

A newly announced 30% tariff on South African citrus exports to the United States, set to take effect Aug. 1, has drawn sharp backlash from agricultural stakeholders and trade experts. As part of a broader enforcement action targeting 14 countries, this move places South Africa in a precarious economic position — despite its historically open trade relationship with the United …

soft citrus

South African Soft Citrus Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) forecasts that 2024–25 production of South African tangerines/mandarins (also known as soft citrus) will increase by 3% from the prior year to 790,000 metric tons (MT). Growers have been putting up hail nets, which are expected to support both yield and fruit quality. PLANTED AREA AND CULTIVARS USDA FAS expects that …

South Africa

Lemon Production in South Africa

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International, lemons

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) expects lemon production in South Africa in 2024–25 to grow by 7% from the prior year to 780,000 metric tons (MT). PLANTED AREA USDA/FAS forecasts that the country’s land planted in lemons will remain unchanged at 18,000 hectares. Producers are holding back from planting any more lemons due to an oversupply …

grapefruit production

Grapefruit Production in South Africa

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

South African grapefruit production is expected to rise slightly in 2024–25. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) is forecasting a 1% increase from the prior year to 425,000 metric tons (MT). PLANTINGS Grapefruit acreage in South Africa has been shrinking since 2020–21, reflecting a downward trend in global consumption. The area planted in 2024–25 will likely …

South African

Small Changes for South African Orange Industry

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

South African orange production and area under production are both forecast to increase by 1% in 2024–25 compared to the prior year. Orange juice production is projected to climb 4%. The forecasts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) are for 1.69 million metric tons (MMT) of orange production, 44,500 hectares of oranges planted, and orange …

symposium

Psyllid Control Discussed at South African Citrus Symposium

Daniel CooperBrazil, Events, Psyllids

Researchers Marcelo Miranda and Haroldo Volpe with Brazil’s Fundecitrus discussed control of the HLB-spreading psyllid during a recent visit to a South African research symposium and accompanying events. During the Citrus Research Symposium in Drakensberg, Miranda discussed studies developed at Fundecitrus on the management of the HLB-spreading psyllid (Diaphorina citri). In South Africa, HLB is caused by a bacteria different …

foliar disease

EU Intercepts Pests From South African and Brazilian Citrus

Daniel CooperExport/Import, International, Pests

The European Union (EU) in July intercepted 11 shipments infested with the quarantine pests citrus black spot (CBS) and false moth in citrus imports from South Africa. Eight CBS cases were intercepted in lemons, one in oranges and one in grapefruit. There was one false moth detection in oranges. The Valencian Farmers Association (AVA-ASAJA) called on Ursula von der Leyen, …

projections

Inclement Weather Cuts South African Orange Export Projections

Daniel CooperExport, International

The Orange Focus Group of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) on July 23 cut its projections for navel and Valencia orange exports in the 2024 season. NAVELS The projected number of 15-kilogram cartons of navel orange exports is now 21 million. That continues the downward trajectory that was started in May when the season-opening estimate of 25.7 …

South African

South African Citrus Crops See Gains

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

South African grapefruit, tangerine/mandarin and lemon production are all projected to increase in 2023–24 compared to the prior year, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) semi-annual report. GRAPEFRUIT The 2023–24 forecast for grapefruit production is now 420,000 metric tons (MT), up from 415,000 MT the prior year. Of that, 202,000 MT is expected to …

commission

South Africa’s Orange and OJ Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

South Africa’s orange and orange juice (OJ) production are projected to increase in 2023–24 compared to the prior year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. ORANGES Orange production for 2023–24 is forecast to increase to 1.69 million metric tons (MMT), from 1.63 MMT the prior year. The South African area planted in oranges is …

sterile insect

Sterile Insect Program Supported in South Africa

Daniel CooperInternational, Pests

South Africa’s Western Cape Department of Agriculture has given the country’s Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) 2 million rands (approximately $109,000) to support the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program to suppress false codling moth. False codling moth is a phytosanitary pest affecting export crops such as citrus, table grapes and stone fruit. The support from the provincial government will help expand …

South African

South African Orange and OJ Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, International

South African orange and orange juice (OJ) production are both forecast to decline slightly in 2023–24 compared to the prior season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). FRESH ORANGES Orange production in South Africa is forecast at 1.62 million metric tons (MMT). That’s a decrease of 1% from the prior season based on a …

South African

South African Grapefruit Production

Daniel CooperCrop Forecast, Grapefruit, International

Grapefruit is an unpopular citrus fruit in the South African domestic market, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported recently. Consequently, only 5,000 metric tons (MT) of an expected 400,000 MT grapefruit crop in 2023–24 is forecast to be consumed in the country. The majority of South Africa’s grapefruit is expected to be exported. The production …

South African Lemon/Lime Production to Jump

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, lemons

South African lemon and lime production in 2023–24 will increase by 10% compared to the prior year, to 720,000 metric tons (MT), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) forecast. ACREAGE The area planted with lemons/limes in South Africa has more than doubled over the past seven years, driven by global demand and rising global prices. However, …

Japan’s mandarin

Soft Citrus Forecast Up in South Africa

Tacy CalliesCrop Forecast, International, Mandarins

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) has forecast that South Africa’s tangerine/mandarin production will total 740,000 metric tons in 2023–24, up 4% from the prior season. Young trees coming into production is a primary reason for the increase. PLANTING EXPANSION SLOWSSouth Africa has 27,500 hectares of tangerines/mandarins, also known as soft citrus. The rapid expansion in …

impacts

Potential Climate Change Impacts on South American and South African Citrus

Daniel CooperInternational, Weather

Like most speakers in a recent World Citrus Organisation (WCO) climate change discussion, those addressing South America and South Africa focused on potential impacts rather than already observed impacts. SOUTH AMERICA “Whether we are negationist or pro-climate change, we should agree that something wrong is occurring in our sector,” stated a slide from Oscar Salgado, an agricultural engineer and fruit …