The Citrus Growers Association (CGA) of Southern Africa has highlighted a boom in citrus exports to South Korea this year, with volumes up sixfold on where they were in 2012.

In the organization's weekly newsletter, CEO Justin Chadwick described exports to the country as one of the standout success stories of 2015, edging closer to one million cartons by the end of week 38.

This compares to 163,380 cartons in 2012, mostly comprising Valencia-type oranges, but in the following year the industry was given a leg up with the opening of access for grapefruit.

In the first year of access, South Africa's grapefruit exports to South Korea were just 67,790 cartons, but this year they reached 594,835 cartons to week 38.

In a statement, Rauff Dawood of CGA special export programs thanked everyone directly or indirectly involved in the Korea export program.

"It has been a busy 2015 season for Korea with record breaking export volumes shipped out from previous years to this year," Dawood said.

"With the assistance of all the role players namely FPT [terminal operator), DAFF [Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries], PPECB [Perishable Products Export Control Board], agents, container depots and shipping lines you guys did an excellent job.

"As we come to the close of the citrus season there are always challenges (like meeting with deadlines, making sure that we finish on time with all duties), as we need to wrap up citrus exports to Korea."

He said there was a South Korean official based in Durban who conducted preclearance inspections with DAFF, but he was due to go home on Sept. 30.

"After the 29th of September 2015 he will no longer be available to conduct any duties, so I trust that all the role players will work together making sure that we finish on time and efficiently," Dawood said.

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