South Africa: more citrus sent to Europe this season
by Market Insider
Tuesday, 14 Jun. 2016
All major destinations except Russia have received more South African citrus in the season to date but the largest increase has come from its cornerstone market of Europe.
The European Union has received 2,5 million more cartons of citrus in the season to date compared to the same period last year with one fifth of the total crop now packed and shipped.
In a weekly newsletter the Citrus Association of Southern Africa (CGA) said 9,8 million cartons had been sent to the European market; modest increases has been recorded also for other destinations including the Middle East (+9%; 4,8 million), North America (+71%; 1,2 million), Asia (+3%; 3,7 million) and Africa (+25%; 500.000 cartons). Russia is the only market with less shipments to date: -1,8 million cartons in 2016 vs. 2,3 million in 2015.
Satsuma packing and shipping is complete, with a final volume of 1,87 million cartons, up 4% on the season forecast while the clementine crop is almost completely packed at 96% or 2,63 million cartons.
The mandarins are now starting to dominate the soft citrus segment with 1,41 million cartons packed to date (20% of the estimate); the grapefruit and lemon seasons have progressed by about two fifths of the expected total.
Meanwhile more than three million cartons of Navel oranges have been packed but are yet to be shipped and this volume still only makes up just over a third of the total Navel crop.
Source: Freshfruitportal