First Crop Estimate for the 2025/26 Season
*All cartons expressed as 4.5 kg equivalent
[Paarl, 26 September 2025] – According to the first crop estimate for the 2025/26 season, the South African table grape industry anticipates a quality harvest of sufficient size to meet market demands throughout the season.
The industry expects volumes inspected for export for the 2025/26 season to increase by approximately 0.6% compared to the actual inspected volumes for the 2024/25 season. This forecast represents a 6.6% increase over the five-year average, positioning South Africa to maintain a reliable supply to global markets.
A national crop estimate of 79.4 million cartons is anticipated, with the upper limit expected at approximately 81.7 million cartons and the lower limit expected at approximately 77.0 million cartons, respectively.
Table 1: First Crop Estimate for 2025/26 season (million 4.5 kg equivalent cartons)
| Region | 5-Year Average | 2024/25 Actual | 2025/26 Estimate |
| Northern Provinces | 6.3 | 4.8 | 5.1 |
| Orange River | 21.3 | 25 | 25.6 |
| Olifants River | 3.9 | 4.4 | 3.7 |
| Berg River | 19.2 | 19.4 | 19.5 |
| Hex River | 23.8 | 25.3 | 25.5 |
| National | 74.5 | 78.9 | 79.4 |
“Good winter conditions prevailed, with sufficient chill units to support even budbreak and adequate winter rainfall to increase dam levels favourably, which bodes well for water availability in a normal season,” said Alwyn Dippenaar, chairperson of the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI).
Compared to the five-year average, lower estimated volumes in the Northern Provinces and Olifants River Regions are due to 14% and 5% reductions in total planted area, respectively. The Berg River Region’s anticipated volume is expected to remain closely aligned with the five-year average. Total planted area in the Orange River and Hex River Regions remains in line with the five-year averages.
Overall, moderate growth in volumes, if compared with the five-year average, indicates stabilisation of total table grape hectares planted. While there has been a slight decrease of 0.4% from 2024, bringing the total to 19,400 hectares in 2025, this figure represents stabilisation at just 3% below the five-year average. Growth in production volume is driven by higher yields from new plantings of new generation varieties.
“South Africa is well placed to provide a consistent, quality crop that meets global consumer preferences to all markets,” said Mecia Petersen, CEO of SATI.
This commitment to consistency and quality, as well as maintaining South Africa’s position as a preferred country of origin for global markets, is supported by the ongoing development and use of SATI’s Prescriptive Logistics Model. The model leverages value chain data to forecast optimal routes to market and generate regional scenarios that inform on-farm decision-making.
The first crop estimate represents a reasonable deduction based on multiple factors. Figures may be revised as required as the season progresses.
ISSUED BY SATI
Enquiries:
Denene Erasmus
Market Development and Communications Manager
denene@satgi.co.za
+2721 863 0366
About SATI
SATI is the unified South African Table Grape Industry Association. All table grape producers are required to register with SATI, which is mandated by law as the industry’s official levy administrator. The levy is required to fund and facilitate market access and development, research and technology, information provision, transformation, and training. SATI is dedicated to operating a partnership that strives to maintain South Africa’s position as the preferred country of origin for retailers around the world. Contact: info@satgi.co.za