Hail and heavy rain damage, combined with persistent container terminal delays at Cape Town port, are creating serious supply disruptions
Recent weather events in South Africa and delays to shipments from the port of Cape Town are turning what was initially seen as an exceptional grape, stonefruit, and apple and pear harvest into a nightmare.
Hail and heavy rain in three important fruit regions are likely to affect export volumes, although no official statements about the impact of these events have yet been forthcoming.
Reports from the Ceres and Langkloof regions indicate that losses of export apples and pears could be between 4-5mn cartons.
Grape growers in the Hex River Valley are now trying to reduce the effect of rain on their crop.
Last year the Hex River Valley exported nearly 26mn cartons, but growers now fear their season will be curtailed early.
Even more significant and damaging are problems in the container terminal in Cape Town, which have delayed shipments, with several container vessels now arriving in UK and European ports at the same time.
This is affecting market supply and results in oversupply at a critical stage of the season.
Observers pointed out that the problems in Cape Town have been repeated year after year, and that pre-season promises of improvements are not materialising.
The deciduous fruit industry body, Hortgro, has already announced that it is considering court action against the port operator, Transnet, to recover losses because of the delays.
Much has been made of the fact that Cape Town has been experiencing more wind delays this year, but exporters and growers said that it is simply a smokescreen to mask inefficiencies.
Some stonefruit exporters noted they have, from an early stage in the season, diverted their fruit through ports in the Eastern Cape.
“However, some consignments have been trapped because it was already in transit through Cape Town,” one exporter noted. ”Shipping through other ports comes at a great cost because fruit must be transported over more than 800 kilometres to Port Elizabeth.”
One stonefruit exporter said that there is a lack of cooperation between industry bodies, and that Hortgro’s actions must be supported by all.
“We are concerned that some of our growers will not be able to survive from the losses being incurred,” they explained.
With around 75 per cent of South Africa’s table grapes destined for the UK and Europe, and perhaps around 70 per cent of stonefruit, the situation is serious.
“Delays in the port of Cape Town is now the most important threat to our survival,” one exporter commented.
