Although Mzansi is nearing the end of its citrus season, lemon exporters are looking forward to start sending more of their fruit to China in future. This comes after the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development published a long-awaited new shipping protocol.
The phytosanitary requirements for citrus exports to China was specifically revised to allow for lemons to be disinfested at higher temperatures as other citrus, reducing the risk of cold damage and potentially opening the door for an increase in future export volumes to the East Asian country, where demand is strong.
A change in temperature
Food For Mzansi reported earlier this year that minister Thoko Didiza and Chinese ambassador Chen Xiaoding signed the protocol on Friday, 18 June after the department and Citrus Research International (CRI) had collaborated over a number of years to produce the required scientific justification towards revising the export protocol.
The disinfestation of lemons can now happen at 3°C for at least 18 days. It is now expressly excluded from the disinfestation protocol which requires all other citrus to undergo disinfestation at -0.6°C for at least 24 days.
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Paving the way for increased exports
The citrus industry has long warned that such low temperatures were not ideal for the shipment of lemons as this could affect their quality. As a result of the risk, very few lemon consignments have been exported to China until now.
With the signing and publication of the new agreement completed, Chadwick says, “It is anticipated that this change will result in increased exports of lemons to China, where the demand for lemons is good.
“It is also anticipated that South Africa will send some shipments of lemons to China under this revised protocol in 2021 as a precursor to larger volumes in 2022.”
Some Chinese importers have already opted to switch from southeast Asian suppliers to South African growers this year, mainly thanks to South African lemons having been cheaper.
Growers, only pack if you have guaranteed cold storage
Back in Mzansi, CGA reports that it recently met with stakeholders across the citrus value chain to get an update on the severe bottlenecks and congestion the industry has been facing this season. It also discussed mitigation measures.
High up on the agenda was the high volume of trucks arriving at the Durban port while week 33 of the export season saw a record 4.8 million cartons of citrus being produced in the northern regions of Mzansi.
Issues discussed with Transnet, shipping line operators, cold storage operators and growers, among others, included the worldwide shortage of shipping containers, the recent cyber attack against Transnet and the looting and violence in the province, which severely impacted port operations.
“It was agreed that all growers in the northern region communicate with their service providers across the supply chain and only pack fruit if they have guaranteed sufficient cold storage available and have received communication that there are also containers available into which to load fruit,” the association pointed out.
The CGA furthermore says it will continue to engage with all role players to ensure the remaining citrus crop of the 2021 season is processed by the Durban port and shipped to overseas markets in coming weeks.
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