SA breaks record for table grape exports, UK tops destination list
A record 77.8 million cartons of table grapes were exported from South Africa for the 2024/25 season, marking a 5% increase over the previous year.
According to the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI), demand remains robust across major international markets.
The European Union accounted for the majority of exports at 58%, while the United Kingdom was the leading individual destination, taking 18% of the total volume.
Notably, exports to North America – which includes the United States and Canada – rose by 25% year-on-year, reaching 7.4 million cartons.
This surge contributed to a global export value of approximately USD $730 million for South African table grapes in 2024.
'The industry is encouraged by growing exports to the USA,' SATI chief exec Mecia Petersen told Fruitnet .
'We are closely monitoring developments regarding potential new tariffs that may impact the sector.'
South Africa has exported fresh grapes to the US for over two decades. Those shipments have increased at an average rate of 19% per year over the last five years.
In the 2024/25 season, trade with the US represented about 3% of total table grape exports. That's equivalent to 2.2 million 4.5kg cartons, or just under 10 000 tonnes.
Petersen emphasised the sector's optimism about further growth in this market, and the importance of maintaining that market share.
However, South African grapes currently face higher import tariffs in the US compared to other Southern Hemisphere suppliers, such as Peru and Chile, which export during the same off-season window.
According to SATI, for South Africa to remain competitive, a careful mix of market consolidation and diversification will be required.
'Market access processes can take many years, and favourable market conditions are influenced by the tariffs South Africa may face in destinations compared to other exporting countries,' Petersen added.
'Finding alternative markets to absorb volumes currently shipped to the USA is not a desirable solution.'
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