South Africa projects stable table grape harvest at 79.4M cartons

The South African Table Grape Industry's (SATI) first crop estimate for the season anticipates "a quality harvest of sufficient size to meet market demands throughout the season."

The organization estimates a total output of 79.4 million cartons, an increase from last year’s 78.9 million, with the maximum projection at 81.7 million cartons and the minimum at 77.0 million.

Total table grape planted areas have stabilized, and although the country's production continues to experience moderate growth, volume is mainly driven by new plantings of new generation varieties with higher yields.

"While there has been a slight decrease of 0.4% from 2024, bringing the total to 19,400 hectares in 2025, this figure represents stabilization at just 3% below the five-year average," the agency stated.

The report estimates lower volumes from South Africa’s Northern Provinces and Olifants River regions due to 14 percent and 5 percent reductions in total planted area, respectively.

The organization expects exports to further increase by 1% this season, an expected slowdown from last year's highest export volume on record. 

Last year, most shipments arrived in the EU and UK, which received 58% and 18% of exports, respectively. North America, the US and Canada, received a total of 7.4 million cartons, a 25% increase from the previous season.

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