In a calculated move, South Africa shifts its position, briefly altering its export stance before authorities require it. The country, the world’s second-largest supplier of fresh oranges, has faced scrutiny for floodings of fruit into the European market carrying a fungus that causes black spot. Shipments are paused as of this week, with the pause affecting citrus destined for Europe. The decision is framed as a cooperative gesture with Spanish producers, and the northern regions of the country, where harvests are later, are exempt from the suspension.
The South African Citrus Growers Association and the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum announced an imminent halt to citrus exports to the European Union, planned to take effect in two days. The association stated, The final day of inspections on oranges sent to Europe will be September 15. The pause is described as enabling the northern hemisphere to leverage current favorable market conditions. Industry representatives also said the export suspension signals a spirit of cooperation with European citrus growers, particularly Spanish producers, as the South African industry manages demand in the northern markets.
Carles Peris, secretary general of Unió Llauradora i Ramadera, views the export halt as a cover story designed to minimize fallout. He notes growing pressure on the South African citrus sector and questions how pests and fruit quality issues will be managed as the European Commission reportedly considers tightening import protocols. He suggests that the suspension is a prelude to stricter controls rather than a complete response to the current situation.
little effect
Peris points out that the stop is set for the 15th, given that transporting oranges from South Africa to Europe typically takes 21 to 26 days. The last shipments would arrive around October 10 or 12. He adds that the resulting windows in October could illustrate compliance, while the trade group continues to operate under the framework of a 2016 trade agreement that governs seasonal exports from June through November. The sequence of events appears designed to cushion the impact on the industry while the schedule unfolds.
The overall effect of the export pause is expected to be modest, and the measure does not cover all producing regions in South Africa. According to public statements from citrus producers, shipments from the Western and Northern Cape provinces remain undisrupted. These regions are described as the late-harvesting areas, and exporters argue that continued shipments from them will help avoid broad anger within the industry. Peris reiterates that the plan keeps certain zones active to sustain European supply while the broader situation evolves.
South Africa acknowledges that interventions on fruit infested with the black spot fungus have risen this year, with eleven incidents recorded in August alone. Spanish citrus sector complaints have already reached the European Commission. A member of parliament, Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, has written to the EC to ask about measures, including potential bans on fruit imports from South Africa and Egypt, as well as whether origin controls should be strengthened and if imports might be suspended.
Castellón calls for extensions to cold treatment
Responding to pressure from Spain’s citrus industry, South Africa faces further demands from Castellón producers. Unió Llauradora and the Valencian Farmers’ Association urge Europe to tighten origin controls and extend cold treatment to mandarins from South Africa, currently applying only to oranges. The aim is to prevent the entry of a new pest, the false moth, that threatens the sector and could disrupt markets more broadly.
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