South African stone fruit turnover hits $308M as exports expand

The South African stone fruit industry is looking back at an auspicious 2025, according to the latest Key Deciduous Fruit Statistics report by industry body Hortgro. The sector reported a 12 percent year-on-year increase in fruit turnover, reaching approximately ZAR 5 billion, or $308 million, up from 2024’s $276 million.

The industry spans plums, prunes, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and cherries, with growers farming a combined 38,407 acres and supporting more than 19,000 jobs.

Despite substantial capital and production costs across the industry, plums generated the largest share of the sector’s turnover, while nectarines recorded the strongest export growth among the major categories.

Image by Yulia Khlebnikova via Unsplash

Plums lead the way

Plums were the star of the South African stone fruit industry in 2025. The fruit accounted for 12,455 acres of production, concentrated primarily in the Klein Karoo, a semi-arid valley located in the Western Cape province.

Production rebounded to 110,579 tons, up 17 percent year-on-year. Export markets absorbed 78 percent of the crop, while local fresh markets took 18 percent. Processing accounted for the remaining four percent, the report states.

Value rose 22 percent to $143 million. Exports totaled 14.91 million cartons on an 11.6-pound-equivalent basis.

Europe took 44 percent of plum exports, followed by the Middle East at 17 percent and the UK at 15 percent.

Image by Jessica Fox via Unsplash

Nectarines led export growth, increasing by 19 percent to 10.42 million cartons on a 5.5-pound-equivalent basis. The August Red variety led exports at 1.44 million cartons, followed by Tifany at 1.05 million cartons.

Hortgro attributed much of this growth to younger trees, which accounted for about 32 percent of orchards.

Europe received 44 percent of exports, while the UK accounted for 38 percent and the Middle East 12 percent.

Apricots and cherries see uneven growth

South African stone fruit growers produced 32,910 tons of apricots in 2025, a slight six percent year-on-year decrease. Processing accounted for 61 percent of the crop, while drying took 22 percent. 

Exports accounted for 12 percent, and local fresh markets took five percent. The crop generated $17.77 million in total production value.

Key destination markets included the Middle East, which received 60 percent of South African apricot exports, followed by the UK at 22 percent, and Europe at 17 percent.

Image by Zoshua Colah via Unsplash

Conversely, cherry production reached 3,645 tons, a 17 percent uptick over 2024’s numbers. Local fresh markets absorbed 2,276 tons, and exports took 1,272 tons. Total crop value reached $19.25 million.

Export shipments totaled 230,864 cartons on an 11-pound-equivalent basis. The UK received 60 percent of shipments, followed by Europe at 18 percent and the Middle East at 12 percent.

*All images are referential | Main image by Christiann Koepke via Unsplash

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