Sati has outlined the key factors within South Africa’s control as it reaffirms its market position, following a record-breaking but challenging 2025/26
South Africa’s long-term competitiveness in globally marketing table grapes depends on the factors that remain within the industry’s control.
That is according to the country’s table grape industry body Sati’s strategic review.
“Cultivar selection, production timing, quality, sustainability, coordinated logistics planning and market development will become increasingly important as global competition intensifies,” it stated.
The 2025/26 season highlighted the complex and evolving operating environment facing the global table grape industry and reinforced the need to respond strategically to these changing conditions, the body continued.
“While South Africa delivered its largest table grape crop on record, the season formed part of a succession of challenging years during which global trade has been shaped by geopolitical conflict, shipping disruptions, changing trade policies, inflationary pressures and climate-related events,” Sati said.
”These factors have created sustained uncertainty and volatility across global markets, while driving up the cost of key production inputs such as fertiliser, fuel, agrochemicals and logistics for South African producers.”
At the same time, these global challenges have coincided with local constraints, most notably the under-performance of the country’s ports, placing additional pressure on exports.
“With consumers in many of South Africa’s key export markets continuing to face cost-of-living pressures, the industry is operating in a far more complex and competitive environment, where agility and a focus on long-term sustainability have become essential,” Sati outlined.
Despite these pressures, the South African table grape industry demonstrated resilience.
Final inspection volumes reached 81.25mn cartons, up from 78.9mn cartons in 2024/25, with 78.3mn cartons exported, rising from 78.2mn cartons.
The latest vine census recorded a marginal 0.3 per cent decline in national plantings to 19,343ha, continuing the longer-term trend towards a stable production footprint.
“However, ongoing replacement of older vineyards with higher-yielding new-generation cultivars continues to improve productivity, enabling modest production growth,” Sati added.
