Sati issues estimate for South African grape crop

The South African table grape industry (Sati) has revealed expectations for a high-quality harvest of sufficient size to meet market demands throughout the season. 

In terms of Sati’s first export crop estimate of the season, the industry expects volumes inspected for export to increase by approximately 0.6 per cent compared with the 2024/25 season. 

“This forecast represents a 6.6 per cent increase over the five-year average, positioning South Africa to maintain reliable supply to global markets. A national crop estimate of 79.4mn cartons is expected, with the upper limit expected at approximately 81.7mn cartons and the lower limit at approximately 77mn cartons, respectively,” says Sati.

“Good winter conditions prevailed, with sufficient chill units to support even bud break and adequate winter rainfall to increase dam levels favourably, which bodes well for water availability in a normal season,” says Alwyn Dippenaar, chairperson at Sati. 

Compared with the five-year average, lower estimated volumes in the Northern Provinces and Olifants River regions are due to 14 per cent and 5 per cent reductions in total planted area, respectively. The Berg River region indicated that it will remain closely aligned with the five-year average. The total planted area in the Orange River and Hex River regions remains in line with the five-year average. 

Sati says the moderate growth in volumes compared with the five-year average indicate stabilisation of total table grape hectares planted. “While there has been a slight decrease of 0.4 per cent from 2024, bringing the total to 19,400ha in 2025, this figure represents stabilisation at just 3 per cent below the five-year average. Growth in production volume is driven by higher yields from new plantings of new generation varieties.”

Sati’s CEO, Mecia Petersen, says South Africa is well placed to provide a consistent, quality crop that meets global consumer preferences to all markets. “This commitment to consistency and quality, as well as to maintaining South Africa’s position as a preferred country of origin for global markets, is supported by the ongoing development and use of Sati’s Predictive Logistics Model,” she says. “The model leverages value chain data to forecast optimal routes to market and generate regional scenarios that inform on-farm decision making.”

The first crop estimate represents a reasonable deduction based on multiple factors, according to Petersen, but the forecast will be revised as required as the season progresses.

The first shipments from South Africa for markets worldwide are expected to begin by the end of October, lasting until April next year.