Cape Town terminal expects 13% fruit export rise
South Africa's deciduous fruit exports are set to increase for the 2026/27 season, with new measures to manage congestion.
The Cape Town Container Terminal anticipates a 13% increase in South Africa’s deciduous fruit export volumes for the 2026/27 season, running from November 2026 to April 2027. This rise follows a challenging prior season where operational issues at the terminal led to an estimated 55,000 tons of table grapes being diverted. Deciduous fruits like table grapes, plums, peaches, and apricots are grown in the Western Cape and exported mainly to Europe.
Transnet Port Terminals has implemented new measures following customer and stakeholder engagements, including additional fixed-term employees and enhanced leave management for workforce continuity. A dedicated 24-hour hotline and a fixed weekly vessel schedule with a 21-day berthing plan are now active. Exporters must deliver 95% of planned refrigerated container volumes by stack closure to avoid missing vessels, shifting risk allocation.
These improvements are supported by 28 new rubber-tyred gantry cranes and four straddle carriers. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reported that average vessel waiting time has been reduced from 115 hours to 44.3 hours, and ship turnaround time has decreased from 103 hours in 2023/24 to 55 hours year-to-date in 2026/27.
Why it mattersSouth African farmers exporting deciduous fruits like grapes and plums will benefit from improved terminal efficiency and reduced waiting times for their produce destined for European markets.