W27: Grapefruit Update

In W27 in the grapefruit landscape, the grapefruit area in South Africa has increased by 18% in the last seven years, mainly driven by a surge in global demand, especially in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, it is anticipated that this growth will slow down because of a decrease in global demand. The main grapefruit cultivar in South Africa is Star Ruby, covering 88% of the total area. Furthermore, the USDA forecasts South Africa's grapefruit production at 420 thousand mt in MY 2022/23, slightly above last season due to above-normal rainfall and return to normal yield. South African exports for the 2022/23 season are estimated to be 220 thousand mt, an 8% decline compared to the 238 thousand mt exported in the 2021/22 season. The decrease in exports is due to some grapefruit regions planning to reduce packing of class 2 fruit for exports and moving it towards domestic processing. China is the primary market for South African grapefruit exports, accounting for 27% of global sales, followed by the Netherlands (27%), Japan (10%), and Russia (8%). Although South Africa's grapefruit production slightly increases due to favorable weather, challenges like high input costs, shipping rates, and new regulations remain.