The week of Week 06 saw in Week 06, the South African table grape industry was at the mark of 80% for the packing season. The total was 60.70 million boxes were checked in order to export them up to Week 06; this represents a 2% increase over the previous year’s same period. The total number of 48.57 million boxes were shipped through Week 06 that’s 4% greater than in the prior season until now.

The Northern Provinces and Orange River Regions have completed the packing. It is believed that the Northern Provinces Region fell short of their estimate for the season by around 18 percent. In the Orange River Region exceeded their season forecast by 2percent. Areas that are currently packing include the Hex River, Berg River and the Olifants River.

The estimation of the nation’s crop is the same at 76.40 million boxes that are inspected prior to export.

The three most popular varieties exported in the week of June 06 were Sweet Celebration(tm) and Sweet Globe(tm) as well as Crimson Seedless. In the week ending in Week 06, 79% of all volumes were shipped to the EU as well as the UK while 11% went towards North America.

The productivity of Cape Town Container Terminal Cape Town Container Terminal measured as Gross Crane Moves per Hour (GCH) in Week 06 was 13, compared to an average year-to date of 14.

In the beginning of February and during the second week of February, the strong wind throughout Cape Town slowed operations down in the port. This resulted in delays to shipping.

The differences between the volume of goods that were inspected and exported at the close of week 2006 was 12.13 million boxes, in contrast to 12.99 million boxes that were exported at the same time during the prior season. This is a decrease of 7 percent in the buildup of stock compared to last year’s. The differences between the inspected and exported quantities can be explained by the following (based from the information provided to SATI as of the moment of the writing):

5.83 million containers stored in cold storage. 4.67 million boxes loaded onto vessels but have not yet sailing.

The latest update on logistics was delivered in the presence of Antoinette van Heerden who is the Logistics Relations Manager for FPEF as well as Jacques Ferreira, SATI Commercial Affairs Manager. In the initial nine days of February Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) reported 52 hours of delays due to wind in comparison to 13 hours for the same time frame the previous year. It was only the second time since December the delays from wind were greater than those of last year’s.

The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has been operating 8 of the 9 ship-to shore (STS) cranes (LC 1 isn’t operating) as well as 23 of 24 rubber-tyred cranes. (RTG) cranes, which suffices for the today’s operational needs.

In order to facilitate the transport of the new RTGs in Port of Cape Town, Port of Cape Town plans are now working on a fix for the vessel with a large lift on which the RTGs could be transported. Dates for delivery are yet to be determined, but the delivery of the initial batch of nine new RTGs is likely to be moved through to March, before assembly and then instruction that may see them deployed in the month of July in 2025.

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Jacques Ferreira

SATI

Tel: +27 (0) 21 863 0366

Email: [email protected]

www.satgi.co.za