As the world’s largest citrus exporter, South Africa is building on a record-breaking 2025 season, with key industry leaders expressing cautious optimism about prospects for 2026 despite ongoing risks linked to climate change and global conflict.

The positive outlook emerged during a Citrus Panel discussion hosted by Exporters Eastern Cape in partnership with Standard Bank in Gqeberha on 24 June, following South Africa’s landmark export season in which 203.9 million 15kg cartons of citrus were shipped to international markets in 2025.

The achievement cemented South Africa’s position as the largest citrus exporter in the world, having already held the title of the largest exporter in the Southern Hemisphere for several years.

Standard Bank Executive Head: Commercial Agri Business Bertie Hamman said the citrus industry had enjoyed a strong year and represented one of the country’s greatest agricultural success stories.

“Our story is probably one of the best success stories in agriculture in South Africa. I am really proud to say we are the largest exporter of citrus in the world – it didn’t happen by chance,” said Hamman.

He attributed the achievement to deliberate market diversification, investments in orchards, packhouses and logistics infrastructure, as well as the efforts of industry leaders and the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA).

Looking ahead, CGA CEO Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele said the industry remained committed to its vision of exporting 260 million cartons annually by 2032.

While he described the current season as challenging due to ongoing global conflicts and fluctuating interest rates, he said maintaining quality would remain a key differentiator for South African citrus producers.

“Climate change is another reality, and the question is what are we adding to the toolbox of growers to build their resilience and develop new instruments to help against floods and hail,” said Ntshabele.

The Eastern Cape remains a critical citrus-producing region within an industry that employs about 140 000 people at farm level nationally.

Sundays River Citrus Company (SRCC) CEO Hannes de Waal said growers were increasingly facing unpredictable weather patterns and extreme events.

“Recent floods going over the 100-year mark is a new phenomenon beyond our expectations, even though we watch the weather like hawks. Storms are affecting the industry worldwide; we are in agriculture after all, but the droughts appear more intense,” he said.

Despite these challenges, De Waal believes South Africa remains well positioned against international competitors due to the resilience of its farmers and the industry’s ability to adapt.

“Our farmers are resilient. This season we compete against ourselves and profitability depends on how we optimise and collaborate,” he said.

CGA Logistics Development Manager Mitchell Brooke said the industry was benefiting from the momentum created by the successful 2025 export season, although the export environment had faced significant challenges over the past decade.

He highlighted the Eastern Cape’s advantages, including its proximity to ports, improving road infrastructure, dual-port system and extensive cold storage facilities.

“The Eastern Cape is a fascinating citrus growers’ region. Production is relatively close to the ports compared to other regions, the road networks are being rehabilitated, the region has a dual-port system with capacity and availability, and many cold storage areas,” said Brooke.

He added that while risks remain, there are still significant growth opportunities for the sector, particularly through investment in sustainable energy solutions for the highly energy-intensive citrus industry.

Exporters Eastern Cape chairman Quintin Levey said the region’s citrus success was underpinned by strong collaboration among industry stakeholders.

“At Exporters EC we regularly participate in these collaborations, whether it be meetings with Transnet, our regular task-team meetings or showcasing the citrus exporters’ important work through our various platforms,” said Levey.