Positive Outlook for the South African Pear Industry

In this 2022 South African pear season, production and exports are forecasted to rise despite WAPA perditions of a pear production decrease in the Southern Hemisphere. WAPA's forecast includes pear production from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. Pear production is forecasted to fall by 13% in Argentina, 11% in Chile, and 6% in Australia, and to rise by 31% in New Zealand and 5% in South Africa. South Africa is expected to remain the second-largest pear producer in the Southern Hemisphere, with an annual production of 492,000 tones.

The 2022 South African pear season started in late January with Bon Chretien pears, and so far, production and exports are looking good. Over the past years, the South African pear industry has expanded. This growth can be attributed to the replanting of orchards after the drought the region faced in 2017. It takes about five years for pear orchards to reach optimal production levels, which is expected to occur this year. Another factor that influences the pear industry's growth is the weather. The region has faced two great winter seasons that replenished the water reserves and created a positive outlook for this South African pear season. In 2022, South Africa is predicted to export 19.83 million 12.5kg pear cartons, which represents an 8% increase from the 18.36 million cartons exported in 2021.

Source: The Producer News

In 2021, South African pears were mainly exported to Europe, followed by East Asia and Asia. Together these three markets held 48% of the total South African pear export market. The main varieties exported in 2021 were Packham's Triumph with exports of about 6 million cartons and Forelle with exports of about 2 million cartons. Predictions state that the main export destinations for the 2022 season will include Europe and the United Kingdom. The main varieties exported will be Packham's Triumph with a 6% increase in volume from 2021 and new pear varieties like Cheeky and Qtee.

This year the South African pear market will grow due to the approval of pear exports to China. After years of negotiations, the South African Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development was able to sign the South African pear protocol in December 2021. South Africa had applied for permission to export pears and apples to China in 2003, and apple exports were permitted in 2015. The pear protocol that granted permission for South African pears to enter China was supposed to be signed in March 2020, but due to COVID-19, it was delayed until December 2021. Producers and packhouses need registrations and verifications to ship to China, which will be ready for the first pear shipment to occur during the first trimester of 2022. The Chinese market will be crucial to create sustainability and future growth for the South African pear industry.

The South African pear industry has invested heavily in the construction of refrigerated warehouses, which will allow them to supply pears almost throughout the year. All the investments as well as positive external factors, like the weather, will support the pear industry’s growth.