Proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection
Welcome back to this week’s AMT Fresh Produce Market Report, proudly sponsored by Villa Crop Protection.
After weeks of mixed performance across the fruit markets, higher volumes and shifting demand once again influenced prices this week. While some commodities held steady, others — like watermelons and grapes — came under significant pressure as the season’s supply picks up. Let’s take a closer look at how the fruit sector performed over the past week.
🍌 Bananas and Top Fruits
Banana prices moved slightly higher last week to R11.75 per kg, supported by steady retail demand. However, prices could soften slightly in December and January, when volumes typically increase, before recovering again in February and March as supply drops off.
In the top fruit market, movements were mixed:
- Apples traded lower at R13.07 per kg, reflecting moderate supply and weaker mid-month demand.
- Pears edged higher to R9.85 per kg, supported by better quality fruit entering the market.
🍊 Citrus Market Trends
The citrus market saw mostly sideways movement last week:
- Oranges remained stable at R8.51 per kg.
- Lemons climbed to R8.30 per kg, thanks to improved export interest.
- Naartjies dropped slightly to R8.07 per kg, while
- Grapefruits tumbled by 30% to R4.91 per kg due to increased volumes and slower demand both locally and internationally.
Overall, the citrus segment remains under mild pressure, although quality fruit is still finding support in higher-value retail and export markets.
🥑 Avocados, Grapes & Berries
Avocado prices strengthened by 5% last week to R26.11 per kg, driven by limited availability and solid local demand.
Table grapes, however, slipped 5% to R94.91 per kg. Volumes are expected to increase over the next few weeks as new production regions enter the market — which could place significant downward pressure on prices as we head into December.
Blueberries declined to R37 per kg last week, with oversupply and softer export interest keeping the market subdued.
🍍 Summer Fruits
Pineapples remained unchanged at R11.86 per kg, reflecting stable supply and consistent demand.
Meanwhile, watermelon prices plunged once again — dropping to R1.26 per kg last week.
Over the past four weeks, watermelon volumes have surged sharply, causing prices to fall just as rapidly. Unless demand picks up, prices are likely to stay under pressure heading into the festive season.
🍇 Outlook for the Coming Weeks
As we move toward December, the key watchpoint in the fruit market will be rising table grape volumes, which can quickly weigh on prices.
At the same time, banana prices may soften in the short term before recovering early next year, while avocado prices are likely to remain firm due to limited supply.
Weather will once again play a crucial role — heavy rain or heat waves can disrupt harvest schedules and shift prices overnight.
🍉 Final Thoughts
The fruit market remains highly supply-driven, with strong seasonal patterns now taking shape.
Short-term price pressure is expected across grapes and watermelons, while avocados and lemons may continue to perform relatively well.
That’s your AMT Weekly Fruit Market Outlook, proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection.
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