India Approves In-Transit Cold Treatment for South African Citrus
India has approved in-transit cold treatment for fresh citrus shipped from South Africa, removing a phytosanitary obstacle that had complicated trade for nearly a decade. The decision could support further growth in a market where shipments reached nearly 71,000 tonnes and $54 million in 2025.
Cold treatment can now take place during shipping
India has formally approved in-transit cold treatment for fresh citrus exported from South Africa, covering oranges, mandarins, lemons, limes and grapefruit. South Africa’s Agriculture Ministry announced the approval on August 19, while the measure took effect on July 29, according to Ecofin Agency.
The decision ends nearly a decade of negotiations between Pretoria and New Delhi over phytosanitary procedures. Since 2016, India had required South African citrus to undergo methyl bromide treatment or onshore cold treatment before export to control pests including fruit flies. Exporters may now complete the cold-treatment process while cargo is travelling to India.
South African authorities said the revised system gives exporters more flexibility and makes logistics easier to manage. Treating fruit during the voyage can remove a time-consuming step before departure while allowing shipments to arrive on schedule without compromising quality, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
India has become a larger citrus market
The regulatory change applies to a trade flow that has expanded rapidly. Data compiled on the Trade Map platform show that India’s purchases of South African citrus rose from 24,000 tonnes in 2021 to nearly 71,000 tonnes in 2025. The value of the shipments also roughly tripled over the period, reaching $54 million in 2025.
Approval of in-transit treatment does not guarantee additional sales, but it lowers an operational obstacle for exporters and shipping companies serving India. It could improve vessel planning, reduce handling pressure before loading and make the Indian market more practical for a wider group of suppliers. South Africa’s ministry expects the measure to support higher export volumes, market diversification and employment in the citrus industry.
Relief comes as European requirements tighten
India’s decision provides regulatory relief while South African exporters face stricter requirements in traditional markets. In July, the Citrus Growers’ Association warned that planned alignment between United Kingdom and European Union sanitary and phytosanitary standards could extend tougher EU conditions to citrus entering Britain. London and Brussels have been working toward closer alignment since 2025, with implementation expected to begin in mid-2027.
South Africa is already disputing several EU phytosanitary rules. Since 2022, the bloc has required prolonged treatment at very low temperatures to limit the risk from false codling moth. These measures require exporters to invest in additional cooling, monitoring and storage capacity. Pretoria also challenges EU controls for citrus black spot, which have resulted in tighter inspections, costly spraying programs and greater uncertainty for cargoes.
Diversification supports a larger export target
Britain has applied less stringent requirements than the EU since Brexit, making the possible alignment important for South African growers and exporters. If that flexibility disappears, access to markets with more manageable treatment protocols will become more valuable.
India therefore offers South Africa both a growing destination and an alternative to markets where compliance costs are rising. The Citrus Growers’ Association aims to increase national citrus exports from 3.23 million tonnes in 2025 to 3.9 million tonnes annually by 2032. Expanding shipments to India under the new treatment system could contribute to that target, although volumes will still depend on demand, prices, freight capacity and exporters’ ability to maintain treatment records and fruit quality throughout the voyage.
