Arabfields, Sana Dib, Financial Correspondent Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2025/26 South African table grape season is underway, showing promising early packing figures but facing significant headwinds as export volumes lag behind, due in large part to severe weather disruptions at the nation’s key shipping hub, the Cape Town Container Terminal.

According to the latest data from the South African Table Grape Industry’s (SATI) Fortnightly Joint Grape Marketing Forum (JGMF), the industry is displaying cautious optimism. While the number of cartons leaving the country is down dramatically from the previous season, the volume of fruit being prepared and inspected for export has surged, indicating a robust harvest is in the pipeline, awaiting efficient logistics to reach global markets.

A Tale of Two Metrics: Packing Up, Exporting Down

As of Week 46 of the year, the contrasting figures tell the story of the early season. A total of 958,421 4.5kg cartons have been inspected and approved for export by the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB). This represents a substantial 24% increase compared to the same period last year, signalling healthy yields and vigorous activity in the packhouses.

However, the number of cartons that have actually been shipped and confirmed to have departed from the port sits at just 29,320. This figure is a stark 80% lower than the cumulative total at this point in the 2024/25 season. This bottleneck underscores a critical challenge: getting the fruit from the packhouse onto ships and planes.

The Northern Provinces and Orange River regions are the first out of the gate, accounting for all early-season activity. The national crop estimate remains steady at 79.4 million cartons, a slight 0.6% increase over the previous season’s final export volume. Early-season favourites Early Sweet®, Starlight, and Prime are dominating both packing and export lists, with the European Union being the primary destination for initial shipments.

The Logistics Squeeze: Cape Town Port Under Pressure

The primary culprit for the export lag is clearly identified: wind and fog at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT). In a stark statistic, the terminal recorded 193 hours of weather-related delays in the first three weeks of November alone—a figure that already exceeds the four-year November average of 148 hours.

“Every operational hour available after a windbound period has become ‘a golden hour’ that must be fully optimised,” stated Vis Loganathan, National Planning Manager for Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), in an address to the industry. He revealed that wind speeds have recently reached 100-120 km/h, exceeding the operating threshold of even the port’s new, more resilient rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).

In response, the port is undertaking a multi-pronged effort to improve season readiness. Antoinette van Heerden, Logistical Affairs Manager for the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF), reported that the first batch of nine new RTGs is fully operational, with a further three from a second batch being commissioned. The goal is to have 28 RTGs available for the peak season.

Productivity, measured in gross crane moves per hour (GCH), has shown a slight improvement to 17, up from 16 a year ago, with a target of consistently reaching 20 GCH. Initiatives include a revised 12-hour shift system for ship-to-shore cranes, a push to move more cargo via rail (targeting three reefer trains per day during peak season), and efforts to resolve inefficiencies in the truck booking system.

Regional Snapshots: A Healthy Crop in the Vineyards

Across South Africa’s grape-growing regions, the agricultural outlook is largely positive:

Northern Provinces: Leading the charge, this region has packed 900,790 cartons—a 45% year-on-year increase. The main harvest began in Week 45, and the crop is reported to be healthy, with volumes estimated to be 15% higher than last season. Vine health is good, and disease pressure is under control.

Orange River: This region has had a slower start, with 57,630 cartons packed (61% less than last year), partly due to a slight shift in the harvesting timeline. Vineyards are reported to be in good health with favourable berry size, and packing is expected to ramp up in mid-Week 48.

Other Regions: The Olifants River, Berg River, and Hex River regions are all in advanced stages of preparation. The Hex River region is noted to be about five days ahead of last season, carrying a “good crop” with high bunch counts. Across the board, vineyard health is reported as good, with favourable weather conditions aiding development.

Southern Hemisphere Competition and Global Context

The South African industry is also keeping a close watch on its Southern Hemisphere competitors. Neighbouring Namibia has packed 978,529 cartons for export, which is 24% down from its previous year, but maintains a crop estimate of 9.26 million cartons, an 8.1% annual increase.

Meanwhile, in South America, Peru anticipates a 4% larger crop of 156 million cartons, though its exports to date are down 6%. Chile, a major player, expects its crop to decline by 6.9% to 115 million cartons, with its export season beginning in Week 47.

A Collaborative Path Forward

The consensus from industry leaders is that overcoming the current logistical challenges requires unwavering collaboration. Transnet has confirmed its “War Room” will escalate to twice-weekly meetings during the peak season to rapidly identify bottlenecks and implement mitigations.

The shared goal, as emphasized by both SATI and TPT, is clear: to protect the quality of the fruit, maintain the reliability of South Africa’s supply, and ensure that the promising crop currently being packed in the northern and western regions reaches dinner tables across Europe and the world in perfect condition. The success of the 2025/26 season will depend as much on efficiency in the port as it does on excellence in the vineyards.