Market Trends of South Africa Lime Industry
Increasing Application of Lime in Multiple Sectors
- South Africa is one of the major producers of lime, with a total acreage of 30,190 hectares, producing 0.7 million metric tons of lime in 2021. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the production acreage increased by 35.4% from 22,296 ha in 2018 to 30,190 ha in 2021 due to its wide range of applications, such as their use in the food and beverage sector. Lemon and lime extracts are also used in medicines, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Processed lemons and limes are used as flavoring and food ingredients.
- In the beverage industry, lemons/limes make lemonade, smoothies, and liquors. Lemon juice is also used as a degreaser and disinfectant in the cleaning industry. With the increasing production area, the quantity produced increased by 38.4% from 0.47 million metric tons in 2018 to 0.66 million in 2021. The increasing area under cultivation and favorable government policies, such as subsidies, encourage the country's lime growers to increase their production.
- The Eastern Cape province is the leading growing region for lemons/limes in South Africa, accounting for 42% of the total area planted, followed by the Limpopo (31%) and Western Cape (14%) provinces. The most popular lemon cultivar planted in South Africa is Eureka, representing 75% of the total area, followed by the Lisbon (8%) and 2PH Seedless (6%) cultivars. The area planted with lemons/limes in South Africa more than doubled over the past seven years owing to consumer demand.
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Rising International Demand is Driving the Exports
- The country is less dependent on imports with respect to lime, as it is self-sufficient in its production and is one of the major exporters of lime. In 2021, lime exports reached 0.5 million metric tons, as against the production of 0.66 million metric tons, accounting for a total export value of USD 347,833 thousand.
- Lime exports to China increased by more than 1000 percent to almost 9,000 metric tons in 2021/22 after easing cold treatment requirements in August 2021. Although South Africa is a major supplier of lemons globally, the country's lemons exports to China until last year have been limited by the cold treatment requirement, which made the fruit susceptible to chilling injury and subsequent decay. This change in protocol is anticipated to intensify South Africa's lemon exports to China in the future.
- According to International Trade Center (ITC) Trade, the major export destinations for South African lime are the Netherlands, with an import value of USD 67 million in 2021, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, with import values of USD 36 million and USD 30 million, respectively, in 2021. Exports to these countries are steadily increasing because of the higher production and growing international demand for lime produced in the country, thus, indicating the growth of the market in the country.
