RSA citrus box

The first conventional reefer citrus shipments of the season from South Africa to the US market are being discharged at the port of Philadelphia today (17 June).

The news comes at the same time as confirmation that the US will now almost certainly renew its AGOA Act (African Growth and Opportunities Act) with the inclusion of South Africa following a compromise between the two countries’ poultry associations in a dispute which threatened South Africa’s continued inclusion.

South African citrus growers have been deeply concerned about this possibility because the Act has been one of the most important reasons behind their success in the US market over the past 15 years.

AGOA provides favourable entry for African products to the US market, but because South African poultry producers insisted on a ban on US chicken exports to the lucrative local market, US senators threatened to derail South Africa’s participation.

There will therefore be happy faces amongst the South African diplomats and representatives of the citrus industry when they meet on the quayside at the fruit terminal today to witness the first arrival. The first conventional vessel is carrying around 3,800 pallets of Easy Peelers and Navel oranges. Two other conventional vessels are scheduled to arrive next week and during the first week of July.

South African sources say the detailed shipping plan for supplying South African citrus fruit to the US market will continue until October, with fresh shipments arriving every 12 days. This will be supplemented by smaller volumes in containers throughout the season.

South Africa is expected to ship about 45,000 pallets to the US this year. While the largest volume of the fruit will enter through the port of Philadelphia, a pilot project to supply through the port of Houston will also be continued. This signaled clear intend by the South Africans to deliver fruit as close to their customers as possible. The Port of Houston is seen to be crucial in expanding supply and sales to the Midwest and Far West regions of the US.

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