The Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) have announced the introduction of an additional direct shipping service by MSC, a prominent global container shipping company, from the ports of Ngqura and Port Elizabeth.
According to the chief executive officer of CGA Justin Chadwick, this service, scheduled every Tuesday from the end of May to the beginning of September, aligns perfectly with the peak of the citrus season, providing a timely and efficient means for citrus exporters in the Eastern Cape to transport their produce to international markets.
Ensuring smooth citrus exports
“The MSC’s longstanding partnership with the citrus industry has been instrumental in facilitating export operations, and the introduction of this expanded service is welcomed as a significant development.
“Growers in key citrus-producing regions such as Patensie, the Sunday’s River Valley, and Kat River will benefit from this option, contributing to the preservation of jobs and the generation of essential foreign revenue for the country,” he said.
Chadwick said the CGA anticipated a promising year ahead, with favourable conditions indicating a potentially increased crop yield.
“There is optimism surrounding the possibility of achieving another record-setting export volume, with projections suggesting that South Africa could increase citrus exports from last year’s 165.1 million 15kg cartons to an impressive 260 million cartons by 2032.
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Partnership will create jobs
“Such growth not only promises to boost revenue but also has the potential to create an additional 100 000 jobs at the farm level alone.”
According to Chadwick, in light of these promising prospects, the CGA expresses gratitude for the expanded capacity within the shipping market, which plays a vital role in facilitating the export of South Africa’s high-quality citrus produce to global markets.
“This increased shipping capacity aligns with the industry’s goals for growth and underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to realise the full potential of the citrus sector,” he said.
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