South Africa's satsuma packing has finished for the season with volumes down 22% on initial estimates to 1,687,000 metric tons (MT), according to the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA).

CGA CEO Justin Chadwick said 69% of expected clementine production had been packed by the close of week 22.

"1.8 million cartons of the predicted 2.6 million cartons of clementines have been packed. The Soft Citrus Focus Group (FG) increased their latest prediction marginally – by 100 000 cartons," he said.

"This is offset by the Grapefruit FG slight decrease in prediction by 100,000 cartons. Marsh grapefruit continues to decrease with only one million cartons packed to date.

"The Lemon FG also decreased their prediction - this time by 200 000 cartons."

He said grapefruit shipments had followed the same pattern as in 2010 with Northern Europe as the leading buyer with 42%, followed by Japan (26%), Russia (14%) and the U.K. (5%).

Southern Africa's soft citrus exports were mainly bound for the U.K.  with British purchases rising four percentage points to 44% of total exports for the fruit, followed by Northern Europe (19%) and Russia (19%), the Middle East (5%) and the U.S. (3%).

Russia's share of navel orange shipments was higher than in 2010, rising 12 percentage points to 29%.

Photo: Thrifty Foods

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