South African citrus farmers are finding alternative markets for shipments to Russia that decelerated following its military offensive against Ukraine. According to CGA data, South Africa’s total citrus exports to Russia dipped 70% after Western capitals sanctioned Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine. Increased shipments of citrus into the UK, Asia and the Middle East provided a critical buffer for the industry that employs over 120,000 workers in South Africa. Egypt, Morocco and South Africa feature strongly in almost all categories of citrus exports, including oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruits. With many smaller African countries also boosting citrus production, African exports, taken as a whole, look set to dominate the world citrus trade for years to come.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 08, 2022 06:47 UTC