The South African citrus season is under way with early lemons achieving high prices. Roughly half the early lemons have gone into the Middle East and one third to Russia. Archie Swanson from said that high prices were a reflection of the limited availability. More significant volumes of lemons will be available from the Eastern Cape in May. Having said this, volumes available for shipment to the EU will be tempered by the very strict Citrus Black Spot protocols that have been put in place by the South African authorities and are being strictly policed.
Migratus is a company who focusses on exporting deciduous and citrus fruit from South Africa to the UK, Continental Europe have got off to a slow start this season. "Domestic pear stocks in Europe are still high and there is also quite a bit of Royal Gala around but stocks will reduce in April and May to make way for more Southern Hemisphere fruit." In past years Southern Hemisphere producers of top fruit have shipped ever increasing volumes into alternative markets like Asia and the Middle East.
