With the 2026 citrus season approaching, the Citrus Growers Association of South Africa (CGA) is closely monitoring fuel availability and costs due to the conflict in the Middle East. These factors will impact the upcoming citrus season, which officially begins in April.

The CGA has also received reports of isolated diesel shortages, which is concerning. While official assurances indicate that South African supply remains stable, industry participants have reported limited diesel availability at some stations, apparently due to unusual purchasing patterns and controlled allocation by industry players.

The CGA emphasizes the urgent need for an integrated national approach involving the South African government, fuel suppliers, logistics operators, growers, and exporters. “Strong coordination, transparency, and contingency planning will be essential to ensure the upcoming season unfolds with minimal disruption. The government must recognize the significant contribution of agricultural exports to the economy,” said Dr. Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the CGA. South Africa is the world’s second-largest exporter of citrus fruits, and this sector is its main source of agricultural exports.

“Ninety-five percent of South Africa’s citrus harvest is transported by road to ports. If restrictions on sales or limited diesel availability persist, this could directly impact the functioning of the citrus supply chain. This highlights the inherent problems of a logistics system that relies almost exclusively on trucks. In the long term, greater rail freight activity is needed, and the CGA welcomes the progress of private sector involvement in this sector, but it needs to happen on a larger scale and at a faster pace,” added Dr. Ntshabele, who also expressed his support for the fuel measures recently proposed by Agbiz, Agri SA, and FIASA.

These recent developments are placing additional pressure on the South African citrus sector, which supports 140,000 farm jobs. Therefore, the CGA is urging the South African government to work together to mitigate the negative impacts and create an enabling environment that fosters the continued growth of the citrus industry. This includes measures to improve access to markets in China, India, the United States, and the European Union. “We need better access and more markets now more than ever,” said Dr. Ntshabele.

Estimates for South Africa’s 2026 citrus season will be published soon, providing an overview of projected export volumes.