Market research

Melons and papayas market in South Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The South African melon and papaya market volume experienced notable volatility from 2018 to 2023. After a modest increase to 113.4 thousand tons in 2019, the market contracted sharply to 91.9 thousand tons in 2020. A strong recovery followed in 2021, with volume reaching 110 thousand tons, supported by growing consumer interest in the health benefits of papayas, particularly their antioxidant content, which boosted demand.

Market volume then declined to 91 thousand tons in 2022 and further to 87.3 thousand tons in 2023. In later years, underlying demand was reinforced by surveys showing a strong consumer intention to increase fresh fruit consumption. By 2025, the market environment was being reshaped by major policy initiatives, including the Competition Commission's inquiry recommendations to improve competition and support small farmers, alongside a sustained consumer shift toward locally sourced produce.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in South Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Africa by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production melons and papayas in South Africa

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of melons and papayas, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of melons and papayas, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

South Africa produced 105 214 tonnes of melons and papayas in 2021, marking a 22.3% increase from 2020. Production peaked in 2019 at 111 128 tonnes, then fell to its lowest point in 2020 at 86 031 tonnes, representing a 22.6% decline that year. Overall, from 2018 to 2021, production decreased by 3.8%, averaging an annual decline of 1.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	(22.6%)	22.3%	(1.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports melons and papayas from South Africa

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, South Africa exported 5 000 tonnes of melons and papayas, up 1.0% year-over-year. Exports reached their highest level in 2019 at 7 542 tonnes, followed by a sharp 34.3% drop in 2020 to 4 953 tonnes, the lowest point in the period. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 11.4%. From 2018 to 2021, exports fell by 26.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.4%	(34.3%)	1.0%	(9.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, the largest buyers of South African melons and papayas by volume were Botswana, with 21.4% of exports, the United Kingdom at 19.0%, and Eswatini at 10.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 51.3% of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of decline, South Africa's melons and papayas exports rebounded in value. In 2021, exports totaled 4 801 thousand US dollars, a 13.1% increase from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 4 246 thousand US dollars, following a 53.5% drop that year. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports decreased by 67.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -31.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(38.3%)	(53.5%)	13.1%	(31.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the United Kingdom was the top buyer of South African melons and papayas by value, accounting for 47.8% of exports, followed by the Netherlands at 15.7% and Botswana at 10.2%. These three markets together made up 73.7% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports melons and papayas to South Africa

Imports in kind, t

Following two years of growth, South Africa's imports of melons and papayas declined in volume. In 2021, imports stood at 9 780 tonnes, down 10.0% from 2020. Imports peaked in 2020 at 10 867 tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 11.0%. Overall, from 2018 to 2021, imports rose by 3.8%, averaging an annual growth of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.9%	11.0%	(10.0%)	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Mozambique was the dominant source for melons and papayas imported into South Africa, representing 83.2% of total import volume, while other countries played a much smaller role.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to South Africa in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year rise, South Africa's imports of melons and papayas fell in value. In 2021, imports amounted to 2 586 thousand US dollars, a significant 20.6% decrease from 2020. The highest value was in 2020 at 3 257 thousand US dollars, which saw a 4.9% increase that year. From 2018 to 2021, imports dropped by 16.2%, with an average annual decline of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.7%	4.9%	(20.6%)	(5.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Mozambique was the primary source for melons and papayas imported into South Africa by value, accounting for 72.0% of total imports, with other destinations contributing less significantly.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to South Africa in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io