Promising start to stone fruit season

South African stone fruit exports are expected to rise by 13% in 2025/26, led by nectarines, while apricot volumes may fall slightly. Strong demand on key markets, including the UK, EU, Middle East and soon China, supports the outlook, but growers face challenges with compliance and logistics.

- By Glenneis Kriel reports.

South African stone fruit exports are off to a strong start in the 2025/26 season, buoyed by favourable winter conditions and strong demand in key markets. According to Jacques du Preez, Hortgro’s general manager of trade and markets, most stone fruit production areas in the Western Cape experienced a sufficiently cold winter, though rainfall has been relatively low.

TARIFF DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINA AND INDIA SHOULD IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF SOUTH AFRICAN EXPORTS

“While the water situation is not ideal, irrigation dams should provide enough water for the upcoming warm and dry summer,” he says.

Hortgro’s latest crop estimates show that nectarine exports are expected to rise by 23%, from 10,42 million 2,5kg cartons to 12,85 million cartons. Peach exports are forecast to increase by 20%, from 1,88 million to 2,26 million 2,5kg cartons, while plum exports should grow by 5%, from 14,91 million to 15,65 million 5,25kg cartons. In contrast, apricot exports are expected to decline by 5%, from 740 060 4,75kg cartons to 700 883 cartons.

Over the past five years, the area planted to nectarines increased by 28% to 2 851ha, resulting in a 56% rise in export, local, and dried volumes. This growth has largely been driven by new plantings coming into production and increased demand in both domestic and export markets.

The area under apricots, dessert peaches and plums, however, declined by 8% to 2 177ha, 18% to 1 088ha, and 6% to 5 139ha, respectively.

These reductions, combined with adverse climatic conditions and logistical challenges in some years, led to a 13% decrease in total apricot production, a 23% decline in dessert peach volumes, and a 9% drop in plum exports and local sales.

MARKET OUTLOOK

The UK, EU and Middle East are South Africa’s main export destinations for apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums.