Proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection
Welcome to this week’s AMT Fresh Produce Market Report, focusing exclusively on fruit market movements across South Africa. While overall demand improved last week, several fruit categories experienced notable price swings driven by seasonal volumes, strong imports, and shifting consumer patterns. Here’s your complete fruit outlook for the week.
Fruit Market Performance
Bananas
Banana prices continued their strong upward trend, increasing 6% to R12.98 per kg. Firmer demand and steady volumes helped maintain momentum, and prices are likely to remain supported in the short term.
Apples
Apple prices traded 7% lower at R11.96 per kg.
Despite this drop, apples typically remain relatively firm until around February, when rising seasonal volumes begin to place pressure on prices.
Pears
Pear prices decreased to R9.10 per kg.
The trend remains downward, and prices are expected to soften further as more fruit enters the market.
Citrus Market Overview
- Oranges: up 3% to R9.42 per kg
- Lemons: higher at R8.85 per kg
- Naartjies (Mandarins): sharply lower, down 15% to R11.25 per kg
- Grapefruit: increased to R10.03 per kg
Citrus performed mixed across the board, with oranges and lemons gaining slightly, while naartjies saw a substantial decline.
Avocados
Avocado prices increased to R29.81 per kg, reflecting stronger demand and moderated local supply.
Table Grapes
Table grapes fell significantly, trading 29% lower week-on-week at R26.52 per kg.
Volumes increased rapidly with the start of the season, placing heavy downward pressure on prices. Grapes typically reach their lowest levels in February, when supplies peak. Prices are currently 18% lower year-on-year.
Pineapples
Pineapple prices increased to R12.28 per kg, supported by stable demand.
Blueberries
Blueberries jumped strongly to R44.46 per kg, reflecting lower volumes and strong consumer demand.
Watermelons
Watermelon prices surged 22% higher to R1.08 per kg, supported by improved festive-season demand.
Mangos
Mango prices saw the largest movement last week, dropping a steep 47% due to a 184% spike in volumes.
With such significant supply pressure, mango prices are likely to remain under downward pressure in the near term.
Fruit Market Outlook
Key expectations moving forward:
- Table grapes: prices will likely continue trending lower until the February volume peak.
- Pears: expected to remain on a downward trajectory.
- Apples: should hold steady and only weaken closer to February.
- Mangos: large volumes will keep prices under pressure.
- Bananas, oranges, and avocados: remain well-supported by current demand patterns.
Final Thoughts
That’s your AMT Weekly Fresh Produce Outlook — Fruit Edition, proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection.
Stay connected with AMT on all social media platforms for daily fruit market updates, and join us again next week for more insights into South Africa’s fresh produce markets.