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Welcome back to this week’s AMT Fruit Market Update. Here’s a look at the latest movements across South Africa’s major fruit categories and what’s driving the market right now.
Fruit Prices This Week
Core Fruit
- Bananas: increased to R12.30/kg, still 11% lower than a year ago
- Apples: declined to R12.82/kg
- Pears: dropped to R9.56/kg
Citrus Market
- Oranges: up to R9.12/kg
- Lemons: stronger at R8.42/kg
- Naartjies: jumped to R13.21/kg
- Grapefruit: slightly lower at R8.77/kg
Other Key Fruit Categories
- Avocados: stable at R29.30/kg
- Table grapes: sharply lower by 20%, trading at R37.41/kg
- Pineapples: up to R11.95/kg
- Blueberries: declined to R37.53/kg
- Watermelons: down to R0.89/kg
Market Drivers
Table Grapes Under Pressure
Table grape prices dropped significantly due to an 88% surge in volumes compared to the previous week. Prices are now 25% lower than a year ago, driven by:
- A very strong start to the season
- Rapidly rising volumes
Expectations:
Prices are likely to remain under pressure and may drop further over the next month.
Blueberries: Weak Finish, Better Start Ahead
Blueberries are also facing pressure:
- Volumes: 2% higher year-on-year
- Prices: 7% lower year-on-year
Short-term outlook:
- Slight dip in volumes expected during December
- Significant price recovery likely from mid-January onwards
- Upward trend may continue through to April, when prices typically peak on lower volumes
Final Word
That’s your AMT Weekly Fruit Market Overview, proudly brought to you by Villa Crop Protection.
Follow AMT on all social platforms for daily fresh produce updates, and join us again next week for the latest market trends.