The Eastern Cape’s citrus industry is riding high after South Africa recorded its biggest-ever citrus export season in 2025, but industry leaders say navigating climate challenges, global uncertainty and rising costs will be key to maintaining momentum in 2026.
The topic took centre stage at a Citrus Panel Discussion hosted by the Exporters Eastern Cape in partnership with Standard Bank in Gqeberha on 24 June.
South Africa cemented its position as the world’s largest citrus exporter in 2025, shipping a record-breaking 203.9 million 15kg cartons of citrus to international markets. The achievement marks another milestone for an industry that has become one of the country’s agricultural success stories.
A global leader in citrus exports
Speaking during the discussion, Standard Bank Executive Head of Commercial Agri Business, Bertie Hamman, described the industry’s growth as one of South Africa’s standout agricultural achievements.
“Our story is probably one of the best success stories in agriculture in South Africa,” said Hamman.
He credited the success to strategic investments in orchards, packhouses and logistics infrastructure, as well as deliberate efforts by the industry to diversify export markets and strengthen international relationships.
Industry still aiming higher
Despite the record-breaking performance, the Citrus Growers’ Association remains focused on long-term growth.
CEO Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele said the industry remains committed to its vision of exporting 260 million cartons by 2032.
While acknowledging challenges such as geopolitical uncertainty, fluctuating interest rates and climate change, Ntshabele believes quality will continue to set South African citrus apart from competitors.
He added that building resilience against floods, hail and other extreme weather events is becoming increasingly important for growers.
Eastern Cape growers face changing climate realities
The Eastern Cape remains one of South Africa’s most important citrus-producing regions and plays a significant role in an industry that employs around 140,000 people at farm level nationwide.
Sundays River Citrus Company CEO Hannes de Waal said climate-related challenges are becoming more difficult to predict.
He noted that recent flooding events have exceeded what were historically considered once-in-a-century occurrences, while drought conditions are becoming more severe.
Despite these challenges, De Waal said South African citrus farmers remain resilient and well-positioned compared to international competitors.
“Our farmers are resilient,” he said, adding that collaboration and optimisation will be critical to maintaining profitability.
Strong logistics advantage for the region
CGA Logistics Development Manager Mitchell Brooke highlighted the Eastern Cape’s strategic advantages when it comes to exporting citrus.
He pointed to the region’s proximity to ports, improving road infrastructure, dual-port capacity and extensive cold-storage facilities as major strengths.
Brooke described the industry as being on a “wonderful wave” following the success of the 2025 season, while noting that sustainable energy solutions present an important investment opportunity for a sector that relies heavily on electricity.
Collaboration remains key
Closing the discussion, Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman Quintin Levey thanked panelists for their contributions and emphasised the importance of ongoing collaboration across the sector.
He said the continued success of the Eastern Cape citrus industry is built on strong partnerships between growers, exporters, logistics providers and 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.
Why this matters for Nelson Mandela Bay
The citrus industry remains one of the Eastern Cape’s most significant export sectors, supporting thousands of jobs across farming, logistics, warehousing and port operations. As global demand for South African citrus continues to grow, the region stands to benefit from increased investment, employment opportunities and economic activity, provided the industry can successfully navigate climate and infrastructure challenges.
Caption: Following the Citrus Panel Discussion were Kobie Venter (Standard Bank), Alan Barr (KPMG), Samantha Dunlop (Exporters EC), Bertie Hamman (Standard Bank) and Quintin Levey (Exporters EC).
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