South Africa’s citrus industry is facing a major setback after severe flooding caused widespread damage to orchards in parts of the Eastern and Western Cape. This year’s harvest and export earnings are under pressure as a result.
The disaster comes only months after South Africa overtook Spain to become the world’s leading citrus exporter — a milestone widely celebrated within the agricultural sector.
The worst-affected region is the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape, where floodwaters have inundated farms, damaged infrastructure and uprooted citrus trees. Concerns have been raised over significant crop losses.
Early estimates suggest that up to 12% of the local citrus crop may have been affected by the flooding.
Growers say the disaster struck at a critical stage of the harvesting season, particularly as the picking of soft citrus and mandarins was beginning to intensify.
Farmers have warned that the destruction could disrupt exports and place additional financial strain on producers during one of the industry’s most important production periods.
The sector is also facing mounting pressure from rising shipping costs and export disruptions linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a key export destination for South African citrus products.
Industry leaders say the full financial impact of the flooding is still being assessed as damage evaluations continue across affected farming regions.
