Shift from air to sea freight for exports of South African blueberries

Published 2020년 9월 3일

Tridge summary

South Africa is experiencing its largest blueberry harvest to date, with an estimated 24,000 tons, including 17,000 tons for export. The industry has seen significant growth, with last year's exports reaching 12,282 tons. Due to Covid-19, there is uncertainty about the growth outlook, but the sector remains optimistic. There has been a shift from air to sea freight this season, and the industry is seeking to access more markets, including South Korea, to diversify risks and keep options open. The process of gaining access to the Chinese market is reportedly slow.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Across South Africa, the harvest of the largest blueberry harvest to date has started. The total harvest is estimated at 24,000 tons, of which about 17,000 tons will probably be destined for export. “Last year, exports were 12,282 tons and this gives an idea of the tremendous growth in the blueberry sector, which is turning the more established categories in the South African fruit market upside down,” said Justin Mudge, president of Berries ZA . “The industry has already harvested more than 530 tons in the new season. Here in the Western Cape, the season got off to a slower start than last year,” he says. "Given the Covid-19 crisis, there is currently greater uncertainty about the growth outlook. Don't get me wrong as we are still very optimistic but these are just forecasts that may need to be adjusted after the season ends." New orchards may be in the pipeline for 2020-2021, with plantings having to be postponed due to Covid-19. The last phase of the 2019-2020 raspberry season ...

Source: AGF