Hortgro says severe shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el‑Mandeb have significantly affected South Africa’s fruit exports, particularly to markets in the Middle East.
According to Jacques du Preez, Hortgro’s Trade and Markets General Manager, approximately 675 000 cartons of stone fruit and 900 000 cartons of apples and pears are currently at sea, facing uncertainty due to delays and rerouted vessels.
Efforts to divert shipments to alternative markets have been limited, as many of those markets are already oversupplied, placing additional downward pressure on prices and threatening producer incomes.
Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mariette Kotze, General Manager of Support Services at Hortgro.

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