SA faces allegations of dumping ‘non-premium’ citrus in India

Indian fruit importers singled out citrus varieties like Nadorcott mandarins and Forelle pears as surplus products that are weakening their reputation.

Last year, the arrival of 50 to 60 container loads of small-sized Nadorcott mandarins in a short period triggered a price crash to just USD $5–6 (R88–R106*) per box.

This surplus also caused the 2025 Nova mandarin season to open at prices 30% lower than the previous year’s value.

SA mandarins perceived as ‘non-premium’ in Indian market

Importers argue that South African exporters are shipping volumes without proper planning and without regard for India’s demand cycles or size preferences.

The late arrival of large, unwanted mandarin sizes and excess volumes has led buyers to perceive South African fruit as low quality or “non-premium.”

The pear segment faces a similar problem. South Africa has oversupplied Forelle pears—normally a premium variety, causing prices to drop 40–50% year-on-year.

Indian stakeholders claim this is part of a recurring pattern where South African companies treat India as a “dumping ground” for their excess produce.

“This aggressive export strategy may benefit short-term clearance but comes at a cost to both growers and long-term trade relationships,” a leading importer told FreshPlaza.

“The burden of these losses is ultimately borne by South African growers, and it makes Indian importers extremely cautious when engaging with RSA suppliers.”

A potentially worsening situation

Meanwhile, the proposed new 30% tariff on South African citrus exports to the USA could disrupt emerging markets even further.

Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), insists that South Africa already pays hefty export duties to Asia.

“The US volumes cannot be easily absorbed elsewhere at such short notice,” explained Ntshabele. “Also, we already face very steep tariffs with exports to promising markets like India and China.”

*USD – ZAR exchange rate as of 12/06/2025