Written by Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association of South Africa
The Minister of Finance this week mentioned the revival of the passenger and logistics transport sector by the Department of Transport while delivering the Medium-Term Policy Statement (MTBPS).
He acknowledged the deleterious impact of the dysfunction in the logistics sector on the broader economy. As a result of the dysfunction, much more goods have over the years been transported by road to the ports, leading to road congestion and an increased deterioration of road infrastructure. The recent announcement of Private Sector Participation partnerships involving 11 private train operators selected to run 41 rail routes across six corridors, will be a game changer to facilitate the move from road to rail over time.
The Minister also noted the improvement in port efficiency, driven by the broader reforms under the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy. We have noted investments in new equipment and contracts with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) which will improve turnaround times on maintenance and therefore impact uptime, resulting in the improved flow of goods at ports. The Minister also estimated that more than R200 billion of investments can be unlocked at Durban pier 2 over the next five-year period.
The CGA this week reported on the increase in citrus export volumes which saw 203,4 million 15kg cartons go through the port system without experiencing bottlenecks, a testament to the progress being made.
Last year the industry exported 165 million cartons. The increase in volume further highlights the continued growth of the southern African citrus industry in line with Vision 260, which would result in the export of 260 million cartons by 2032.
Tuesday also saw the sod-turning ceremony of the FPT group’s Insimbi Ridge cargo facility in Cato Ridge. The project is a substantial investment in KwaZulu-Natal’s logistics and infrastructure sector. This state-of-the-art 33 000 m² inland cold and general storage facility holds immense promise for the citrus industry. As an industry, this is but one of the recent developments in this geographical area, which is central to the improvement of not only citrus exports but South Africa’s export economy in general.
Clearly, there’s a confluence of factors coming together at the right time. Should this momentum be maintained, the citrus industry remains poised for growth.
This article first appeared at www.cga.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/From-the-Desk-of-the-CEO-46_25-14-November-2025.pdf
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