In South Africa, after a year 2022 considered difficult, professionals in the citrus sector predict that a further decline in exports could occur during this 2023 export season which will begin in April.
During the CMF (Citrus Marketing Forum) which was held in the form of a virtual meeting with 215 delegates connected, an estimate of export volumes for this 2023 season was established. The final estimate for mandarins is expected for mid -april ; during this 2023 season, the country should export 142,480,652 boxes (15 kg) of citrus fruits
.Oranges Valencia: the current estimate is 54.5 million boxes (15 kg), an increase of 700,000 boxes compared to 2022.
.Navel oranges: current estimate is 25.3 million boxes (15 kg), a decrease of 2.5 million boxes compared to 2022
.Lemons: the current estimate is 37.3 million boxes (15 kg), an increase of 2.6 million boxes compared to 2022. Increase due to the entry into production of young trees.
.Grapefruits: the current estimate is 12.7 million boxes (17 kg), a decrease of 2.1 million boxes compared to 2022.
This 2023 season comes after a difficult 2022 season which recorded an exported volume of 164.8 million boxes, a drop of 5.7 million boxes compared to the forecasts at the start of the season.
According to South African professionals, the problems that the sector encountered in 2022 should persist in 2023, such as soaring prices of agricultural inputs and transport costs, but also the deterioration of public infrastructure as well as the supply of irregular electricity.