How South Africa overtook Spain as the world’s largest citrus exporter by volume

A new leader by export volume

South Africa exported 2.9 million tonnes of citrus in 2025, overtaking Spain to become the world’s largest citrus exporter by volume. The milestone was confirmed by South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa. It changes the ranking of two industries that play different but complementary roles in the global citrus market.

The result does not make South Africa the world’s largest citrus producer. The South African government said China, Brazil and Spain remain major producers, with substantial volumes absorbed by their domestic markets. South Africa’s position instead reflects a production system built heavily around foreign demand and the ability to supply markets during the Northern Hemisphere’s off-season.

Government data published after the 2025 season also recorded 203.4 million 15-kilogram cartons delivered to global markets. The Ministry of Agriculture described citrus as South Africa’s largest agricultural export industry by value. The industry’s scale gives orchard investment, packing capacity, cold storage, port performance and access to overseas buyers direct importance for rural employment and farm returns.

Export orientation drove the shift

The Citrus Growers’ Association attributes the country’s performance to high fruit quality, compliance with international plant-health and sustainability requirements, and long-standing integration into global supply chains. Academic research published in the European Journal of Development Research similarly links South Africa’s export performance to capabilities developed throughout the citrus value chain.

That model requires coordination beyond the orchard. Export fruit must meet destination-specific requirements, pass inspections and retain quality through packing, inland transport, ports and refrigerated shipping. The Western Cape government credited producers, farm workers, exporters and other value-chain participants for the achievement, while noting the province’s contribution to the national industry.

Spain still harvests more citrus overall, according to the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but consumes more fruit domestically. South Africa directs a larger share of its crop abroad. Its seasonal position also allows South African suppliers to serve Northern Hemisphere buyers when local availability is lower, making the relationship with Spain partly complementary rather than purely competitive.

Growth brings greater exposure

The ranking does not remove the industry’s trade risks. The Associated Press reported in 2025 that proposed 30% US tariffs threatened 35,000 citrus-sector jobs. The United States received around 5%–6% of South African citrus exports, or more than 6.5 million cartons annually, according to the growers’ association. The group estimated that the tariff would add $4.25 to the consumer price of a carton.

Plant-health measures, high tariffs and the cost of moving fruit through South African ports remain central concerns for exporters. The industry has identified potential exports of 260 million cartons by 2032, while Farmer’s Weekly reported an expectation of 209 million 15-kilogram cartons in 2026, against 204 million in 2025. Reaching those volumes will depend not only on orchards and packing capacity but also on reliable logistics, defensible market access and demand strong enough to absorb additional fruit.