JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- South African citrus exporters are set to gain improved access to the Indian market after India approved additional treatment options for fresh citrus fruit following nearly a decade of negotiations, the South African Government News Agency said Tuesday.
In a statement, the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and the Department of Agriculture said India had approved additional cold-treatment options for fruit flies, providing greater logistical flexibility and helping improve the quality of South African citrus.
The agreement marks a significant step forward as the industry seeks to expand its markets in countries such as India and China while reducing its reliance on Europe.
South Africa's Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp welcomed the development, saying advanced technology had enabled South African farmers to overcome market access barriers and make their high-quality produce available to consumers in other countries.
With a population of about 1.47 billion, India offers significant potential for South African citrus exports, which can complement India's seasonal supply, Aucamp said.
CGA Chief Executive Officer Boitshoko Ntshabele said the breakthrough highlighted the importance of continued public-private cooperation in improving the technical conditions for market access.
He said the focus should now shift to improving commercial conditions, noting that tariffs of about 25 to 30 percent continued to put South African citrus at a disadvantage compared with competitors benefiting from preferential tariff arrangements.
According to the Department of Agriculture, South Africa exported 2.9 million tonnes of citrus in 2025, surpassing long-standing leader Spain to become the world's top citrus exporter.
