SATI STATISTICS OF TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA 2023

The lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and additional product screening measures in China facilitated the execution of the China Market Development Campaign, co-sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. A successful campaign, including two launch events and numerous in-store promotions, was delivered this season. The market provided positive feedback on the quality of South African table grapes.

Macro-economic factors continued to place downstream pressure on the industry value chain, however the impact of inflation in SA’s key export markets was lower than expected, which was positive for the industry. In May 2023, Euro Zone inflation had decreased to 6.1% compared to 8.9% in July 2022; whilst UK inflation was reported at 8.7% in May 2023 compared to 10.1% in July 2022 (Trading Economics, 2023). Production in Southern Hemisphere countries continues to tighten market competitiveness and prompt the South African industry to continually evaluate its strategic direction. Peru’s export volumes increased by ±10% to 129 million cartons (4.5 kg equivalent), surpassing Chile’s volumes for the first time. Chile’s volumes decreased by 17% this season to 109 million cartons (4.5 kg equivalent), mainly due to the replacement of older cultivars.

As we approach the upcoming season, SATI’s logistics initiatives will continue to focus on process improvement at the ports and ensuring port equipment availability. Initiatives to maximise shipments by exploring alternatives such as utilising the Gqebertha (Port Elizabeth) Port, the addition of conventional ships and engaging shipping lines to have structured agreements in place will remain a key focus. Producers will continue to place emphasis on the cold chain and focus on production practices that support product longevity during the export journey. In our view, South Africa currently enjoys access to 16 of the top 20 most important import grape markets in the world. One of the industry’s key priorities therefore remains to ensure that market access is preserved within current markets, whilst market access to developing markets is pursued. SATI is committed to the well-being of producers and their commercial practices. Together with industry stakeholders we will continue working to maintain South Africa’s position as a preferred exporter.

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SATI STATISTICS 2023