Surge in South African tangerine exports

South Africa’s tangerine exports are expected to grow by 9% to 420,000 tons in the 2020/21 MY, from 385,000 tons in the 2019/20 MY, based on increased production, a strategy of prioritising exports over domestic sales, and a surge in demand due to COVID-19. Demand for tangerines/mandarins remains strong in the export markets, with the UK the leading export market, accounting for 26% of total exports, followed by the Netherlands (21%), Russia (8%) and the US (6%).  Tangerines/mandarins exports are not impacted by South Africa’s CBS issues in the EU market.

According to USDA data, exports to the United States under the AGOA have grown by an average of 15% per year over the past four seasons, from 7,444 tons in the 2013/14 MY, to 18,690 tons in the 2018/19 MY. This growth trend is expected to continue based on the rising US market preference for easy peelers, and continued duty free market access under AGOA.