PUBLISHER: Fresh Plaza (www.freshplaza.com)
A number of South African exporters have put their consignments for Russia – mostly grapes, pears and stonefruit, as well as lemons – on hold for the moment. “We won’t continue loading until there is more clarity on the situation,” says one exporter. “But it’s not looking good, we could basically lose an entire market and it could have an effect on other markets.”
“Everything depends on today,” he adds. “The level of uncertainty is terrible. No-one knows what’s going on, especially with the deterrent notice issued by Russia.”
South African fruit diverted away from St Petersburg could lead to an oversupply elsewhere.
“More information is necessary and the situation changes by the day. Of course there’s currently greater risk for exporters supplying Russia but food remains a human right and the fruit trade has to continue,” says a fruit export industry official.