Cape town storms disrupt citrus exports

SOUTH AFRICA – Devastating storms and heavy rains have caused major disruptions to exports from Cape Town in the Western Province of South Africa, severely impacting the citrus industry.

After weeks of extreme weather, citrus growers in the Western Cape began harvesting again on July 15. Gerrit van der Merwe, chairperson of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA), stated that shipments to the Port of Cape Town should resume by the end of the week. However, the extent of the damage from the recent storms remains uncertain.

The floods have devastated supply routes and halted port activities, particularly affecting Citrusdal in the Olifants River Valley.

This area, responsible for a significant portion of the citrus export crop, has been isolated for the third time in 18 months. The alternative road via Ceres is unsuitable for heavy loads of fruit, further complicating efforts to restore normal operations.

Local leaders warn of potential food shortages in Citrusdal and surrounding farms unless urgent steps are taken. Van der Merwe emphasized the need for quick action, saying, “We must clearly find an alternative very quickly.

There is an emergency road over private property, but much will have to be done in insurances and assurances from the government before it can be used.”

The main railway line between Johannesburg and Cape Town has been washed away near De Wet, between the Hex River Valley and Worcester.

All trains have been halted at Beaufort West in the Karoo, with repairs expected to take weeks, if not months. Roads in the area have also been affected, raising concerns about the shipment of avocados and citrus from northern regions to the Cape.

The port of Cape Town, which suspended all activities due to strong winds and storm surges, is expected to resume vessel movement soon.

Despite the delays, van der Merwe remains optimistic about maintaining supplies, noting that while one vessel to the USA was canceled, normal shipments should resume next week.

In the Hex River Valley, heavy rain and snow have been reported, with growers welcoming the cold weather as beneficial for the next crop.

Similar sentiments were echoed in Ceres and other deciduous-growing regions in the Cape, where growers view the rain as advantageous for the crop, provided there is no structural damage to roads and canals.

Transnet gradually resumes operations

Meanwhile, the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has begun to resume operations following the severe storms.

Operations at the Port Elizabeth Bulk Terminal and Saldanha, as well as Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal, resumed on Wednesday. However, the Cape Town Container Terminal continues to face challenges due to high swells and wind, preventing two vessels from docking.

TNPA reassured stakeholders of its commitment to safety, stating, “TNPA remains committed to ensuring the safety of employees and port infrastructure.”

The statement also indicated that Western Cape terminals are expected to resume full operations by Friday afternoon, while KwaZulu-Natal terminals continue to function normally.

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