South Africa Becomes World’s Top Citrus Exporter After Strong 2025 Season
South Africa Becomes World’s Top Citrus Exporter After Strong 2025 Season
South Africa's citrus exports hit a record 3.23 million tonnes in 2025, up nearly 28% from the previous year, according to the International Trade Center's statistics.
According to the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, several factors drove the surge:
▪ favorable weather;
▪ new orchards;
▪ an early end to the Northern Hemisphere season;
▪ strong global demand, especially for oranges and lemons.
However, geopolitical instability, including the Middle East conflict since late February, is disrupting maritime freight and access to the region, a key market that absorbed 19.12% of South African citrus volumes in 2025 (about 619,270 tonnes).
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