Rising Fuel Risks Put South Africa’s Citrus Exports Under Pressure

South African citrus farmers are raising serious concerns about the upcoming export season, warning that fuel supply issues and rising costs could disrupt logistics just as the harvest is poised to ramp up. The warnings come as the global energy market remains volatile amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East that have unsettled oil and transport markets worldwide.

The South Africa citrus industry, the world’s second‑largest exporter of citrus fruit — says diesel availability has become unpredictable in some regions even though government officials insist the country’s fuel supply remains stable. Most of this industry’s fruit reaches international markets by truck, making reliable and affordable fuel critical to getting citrus to ports in time for shipping.

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has reported isolated diesel shortages at service stations in parts of the Western and Eastern Capes, where large volumes of fruit are harvested and transported to export ports. According to the growers’ group, irregular patterns of fuel purchases by some industry players and what farmers describe as informal rationing have compounded the pressure.

“The export season effectively begins in April,” a CGA spokesperson explained, “and any disruption to fuel supply or sudden cost spikes at this critical time could slow deliveries, delay exports and ultimately jeopardise the competitiveness of South African citrus on the global market.”

South Africa shipped a record 3.05 million metric tons of citrus in 2025, with the Middle East as one of its largest markets. About 95% of citrus fruit is transported by road to ports such as Port of Durban and Port of Cape Town, making the crop especially vulnerable to fuel supply problems.

Despite these concerns, government officials from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources have reaffirmed that national fuel supplies are sufficient for the near term and do not currently signal a widespread shortage. They attribute recent localised gaps to logistical issues and unusual buying patterns rather than structural scarcity.

But farmers remain worried that elevated diesel prices — already pressured by global energy uncertainty — could push up transportation costs at a time when export margins are already tight. In response, agricultural lobbyists are urging policymakers to consider temporary fuel levy exemptions for farmers to help ease the cost pressures and ensure that exports remain viable.

Industry leaders say the fuel issue is part of broader risks facing South African agriculture, which also include transport infrastructure challenges and inflationary pressure on input costs such as fertiliser and energy. A recent economic review noted that agricultural fuel consumption is expected to peak during the export season and that elevated fuel prices could directly feed into higher food prices both domestically and abroad.

As the April export window approaches, citrus producers and supply chain stakeholders will be watching fuel markets and government responses closely to see if the measures implemented will be enough to protect one of South Africa’s key agricultural export industries.