South Africa's fruit export sector is facing a deep crisis as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is disrupting shipping routes, stranding containers in the Gulf and increasing supply chain costs. The situation is being described as “chaotic” by a spokesperson for Hortgro, as exporters scramble to deal with goods already in transit.
While the South African stonefruit and grape marketing season in the Middle East is expected to kick off in the coming weeks, shipments of apples and pears have barely begun, and the first South African lemons are also reported to have arrived in the water. The timing couldn't be worse, as exporters confirm there is no quick solution to the problem of containers stuck in the Gulf.
Ryan Ferreira, director of GF Marketing in Cape Town, sums up the scale of the challenge: “It would be wrong to say it is complex, uncertainty is the biggest issue. Anything in the fruit business requires certainty so we can make decisions and move forward. There is currently no route to market. Costs have tripled, and the risks have now increased.” He added: “Shipping to the Middle East has increased to US$10,000 per container. Even if the war ends immediately and prices fall, who will cover the increased costs?”
Shipping companies still prepared to move goods to affected areas have increased surcharges in some cases by more than 300 percent. In addition to freight costs, producers in South Africa are also facing steep increases in production costs due to rising fuel prices and fertilizer costs. Reports from production areas in parts of the Cape suggest fears of fuel stock shortages have already triggered panic buying.
Redirecting fruits to other markets is not a straightforward solution. “The quality, size and varieties preferred by Middle East consumers are very specific and this fruit cannot be sold profitably in other markets,” said one exporter. Apple and pear industry sources said small quantities of fruit are mostly shipped to the Middle East, and packing for the region is now expected to slow while growers assess their options.
From the receiving side, Kashif Shahzad, Global Star's head of procurement in Saudi Arabia, confirmed that the supply situation is tightening. Shipments are being redirected to Khorfakkan and Fujairah ports in the United Arab Emirates, although most shipping lines have already refused to load cargo destined for the affected areas. “The prices have increased wildly because the movement of fruits is limited,” Shahzad said. He warned that war surcharges and rising domestic transportation costs would further add to the final landing costs.
Market prices reflect stress. South African Royal Gala apples reached US$38.67 per carton in the 11th week of 2026, up 24% year-on-year and 49% higher than the same period in 2024. White seedless table grapes rose 36.2% to US$25.67 per carton, while red plums rose 47.2% to US$16.40 per carton.
Growers describe the situation as “very serious” from both a production and sales perspective. “Our operations are based on selling our entire crop profitably and the process of developing good customer relationships in this sector over many years is now at risk,” he said. Exporters say they are focusing on removing stranded containers first to avoid further losses, “after that we will have to see how we deal with the rest of the season.” Table grape industry body Sati has not yet commented on the impact it will have on the sector or its cost implications.