South Africa seals major deal with India after 10 years of negotiations
South Africa’s citrus industry is celebrating a major breakthrough that has been nearly ten years in the making.
India has finally agreed to include additional treatment options for fresh citrus fruit from South Africa, potentially opening up a market of almost 1.5 billion people.
The agreement, announced on Monday, is a significant step forward as the industry aims to expand its markets in countries like India and China, while reducing its reliance on Europe.
Currently, Europe accounts for about 36% of South Africa’s citrus exports, but it imposes what local producers consider unnecessary and unscientific plant health requirements.
These requirements include a zero-tolerance policy for pests such as citrus black spot and false codling moth, mandatory cold treatment, and stringent inspection and interception protocols.
The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has stated that it will continue to advocate for better tariff conditions, which still put it at a disadvantage in the Indian market.
In a joint statement on Monday, the CGA and the Department of Agriculture announced that, after nearly a decade of negotiations, India has approved the inclusion of additional cold-treatment options for fruit flies.
This change is expected to enhance the quality of the product and increase logistical flexibility.
Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp praised the development as a testament to how “advanced technology enables our farmers to break barriers, allowing other countries to enjoy our high-quality produce.”
Aucamp said that, with a population of approximately 1.47 billion and as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, India presents significant potential for South African citrus exports.
However, its share of the country’s exports is currently very small, accounting for about 1.5% in 2024, according to data from the National Agricultural Marketing Council.
This breakthrough follows years of discussions between the Department of Agriculture, the research and technical services organisation Citrus Research International, and Indian authorities.
CGA CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele emphasised the significance of maintaining strong public-private partnerships to enhance the technical conditions for accessing markets.
However, he noted that the focus should now shift towards improving the commercial conditions for South African citrus entering the Indian market.
“Tariffs of about 25%-30% continue to place local fruit at a disadvantage against southern hemisphere competitors benefiting from preferential tariff arrangements,” he said.
The second largest exporter of citrus fruit in the world
South Africa’s citrus industry achieved a record-breaking export season in 2025, shipping over 200 million 15-kilogram cartons worldwide.
This marks the highest volume ever recorded for the country’s leading agricultural export and is a significant milestone.
Former Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen commended the industry, calling it an outstanding achievement.
The export figures for 2025 reflect a 22% increase compared to the volumes exported in 2024, greatly surpassing initial estimates and long-term growth projections.
“This achievement by the industry is a testament to the resilience and strategic foresight of our citrus growers, workers, and industry leadership,” Steenhuisen said.
“Hitting over 203 million cartons for the export market is a powerful indicator of the sector’s vital role in our economy, its capacity to create jobs, and its contribution to our country’s foreign earnings.”
South Africa is the world’s second-largest exporter of citrus fruit, following Spain.
About two-thirds of the country’s citrus production is exported as fresh fruit, which accounts for 95% of the industry’s annual revenue.
This export activity creates significant employment opportunities throughout the entire value chain. Citrus is considered South Africa’s most valuable export industry within the agriculture sector.
“It continues to reinforce the role of the fruit industry, which remains the cornerstone of the agricultural sector in the country and a national economy stabiliser in times of a national economic crisis, as witnessed during the COVID-19 epidemic,” said Steenhuisen.
He also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture will continue to collaborate closely with the industry.
This is to overcome logistical challenges, expand and maintain market access, and create more jobs while earning essential foreign exchange.
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