As the country marches towards winter, South Africa’s 2025 citrus export season has begun, with tens of thousands of cartons preparing to leave orchards across the country and head towards local and international markets. From the Western Cape to Limpopo, citrus is one of the country’s most valuable agricultural exports. In 2024 alone, Southern African citrus growers packed around 164.5 million 15-kg cartons for export, highlighting the sheer scale of the industry (1). Each piece of fruit travels thousands of kilometres before it even reaches the shelf at your local supermarket.
But moving citrus isn’t as predictable as it once was, or as easy as it seems. With extreme weather on the rise—floods, heatwaves, and shifting rainfall patterns—logistics companies face mounting pressure from clients and retailers to keep high-value goods on the road and delivered on time. Getting citrus to its final destination isn’t just a matter of distance anymore, but rather resilience. So, how are logistics companies adapting?
Oranges, a staple of the citrus season, must be handled quickly and carefully. According to City Logistics CEO Ryan Gaines, many would assume that transporting oranges requires refrigerated trucks, it’s not necessary, which is why most logistics companies use tautliners and traditional curtain-sided trucks. Where refrigeration is needed, the client will usually take care of it, such as on the retail side, for example, or when importing to international markets.
As climate change brings more erratic weather patterns, route planning has become an exercise in adaptation. Planning can only do so much, especially if Mother Nature intervenes. However, Gaines notes there’s only so much the drivers can do in extreme weather conditions. “While our drivers learn to adapt and are skilled at taking precautionary measures, we also have to prioritise their safety. We tell our drivers to put their safety first and only drive on national roads that authorities have cleared.”
However, the logistics provider also boasts a dedicated 24/7 control centre that monitors routes and weather in real time. This operation hub is integral in responding to unforeseen circumstances, such as flash floods in KwaZulu-Natal or, as we’ve seen recently in Cape Town, wildfires that force road closures and rerouting. The control centre keeps drivers informed, allows for quick decision-making, and enables contingency plans to be put in place if required.
Even with all the challenges facing the logistics industry, citrus transportation needs to be efficient and hassle-free. According to a study by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), inefficient logistics cost the citrus industry more than R5.2 billion in the 2024 season, hindering job creation and reducing the inflow of foreign revenue into the economy2.
In the spirit of efficiency and cost reduction, logistics companies are implementing several innovative strategies that benefit all entities involved in the citrus supply chain. “We always factor in return loads where we can – it’s a more sustainable approach that helps reduce empty trips and lower emissions, especially when weather delays can stretch turnaround times,” commented Gaines.
In a world with shifting climate patterns and intensifying pressure on supply chains, keeping citrus moving is about more than trucks and timetables. It’s about responsiveness, technology, and putting people first. As the 2025 citrus season unfolds, logistics providers are proving that adaptability, not just infrastructure, is the key to keeping South Africa’s fruit industry on the road.
Source:
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-14-sa-citrus-exports-reach-164-5m-cartons-in-2024-just-shy-of-2023-record/
- https://www.freightnews.co.za/article/inefficient-logistics-cost-citrus-sector-r53bn-2024
