South African grapefruit sizes are so small this season most producers will be sending them for juicing, to avoid rejection in Northern European and Asian markets.

The year's crop peak size of 50-55 is too small for the lucrative Japanese market, with only Southern Europe prepared to take this size.

Green Marketing commercial manager Wiekus Hellmann said there was limited opportunity for small fruit.

"We have tried to limit 50-55s to 15% of the fruit going into the market; these sized grapefruits are the ones that come under pressure first."

He said the Japanese market only takes sizes 35-40s, describing it as a fragile market where it would be inadvisable to oversupply.

"Producers aren't speculating and sending smaller sizes to export because the options are very limited. They've decided to send them for juicing where there's a lot less risk"

Fruits Unlimited citrus marketing manager Gabriel Malan estimated total crop volumes were down by 20% because of the smaller sized fruit.

"Grapefruits sized 55 will go for juicing. We can still send 40-45s to Europe. We are trying to spread the risk as far as possible."

His company typically exports 2,250 metric tons (MT) abroad but estimated this season it would be exporting 30% less.

Everseason marketing manager Stiaan Engelbrecht agreed the traditional market was under pressure.

"The fruit is very small.The local grapefrit market is very small, you have to send them to a juicing factory."

His company typically exports 1,500 metric tons (MT) a year of grapefruit.

A dry South African summer is being attributed to the reason why the majority of this season's fruit is around the 50-55 size.

According to the Citrus Growers Association figures so far 46% of exports have gone to Europe with 20% to Japan, compared with 36% and 27% respectively last year.

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