South African stonecrops rebound after slow start

Published Dec 6, 2024

Tridge summary

South African stone fruit and table grape exporters are experiencing a surge in early season volumes after a slow start due to frost damage. Table grape packing in the northern and Orange River regions is gathering pace, with the first vessel in a new specialized reefer shipping programme about to be loaded in Cape Town. This programme is anticipated to alleviate pressure on the Cape Town terminal. Supplies to the UK and Europe are predicted to rise significantly from the second week of December, as the southern African table grape season is in full swing. Stone fruit growers are optimistic about the rest of the year, despite initial challenges. The table grape sector is set to innovate to overcome previous logistical issues, with expectations of improvements at the Port of Cape Town. The potential shortage of Californian grapes due to summer heatwaves could lead to more Peruvian grapes being exported to North America, which could benefit South African stonefruit growers in Europe and the UK.

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

Original content

South African stone fruit and table grape exporters have reported that early season volumes are picking up after a slow start. The recovery comes after some frost damage, growers said. On the other hand, table grape packing in the northern and Orange River regions is gaining momentum. The first vessel in a weekly programme of specialized reefer shipping, which will last more than two months, will be loaded in Cape Town this week. This programme is seen as an alternative to traditional container shipments and is expected to relieve pressure on the Cape Town terminal. The first major shipments through the port of Walvis Bay from Namibia's Aussenkehr region left last weekend, while Orange River grape shipments are mostly headed through the port of Cape Town. Observers expect supplies to the UK and Europe to increase significantly from the second week of December as the five-month southern African table grape season is well underway. For South African stone grapes, the early market ...

Source: MXfruit