South African fruit exporters are losing out because of inefficiencies in cold storage that also threaten plans to expand exports to Asia.

South Africa exported some 2.2 million metric tonnes of citrus, grapes and other fruit in the last season, mainly to the United Kingdom and Europe, and was projected to generate 10.5 billion rands of exports in 2008, up from 8 billion rands last year. But factors including poor packaging and congested ports were affecting South Africa's competiveness, according to Stuart Symington, chief executive of the Fresh Fruit Exporters Forum.

A lack of investment to modernise outdated cold storage facilities at ports has seen them struggle with increased volumes, while South African ports themselves are a major bottleneck to commodity exports, reveals Reuters. Symington said Africa's strongest economy needed an action plan in the face of increased competition from Chile, New Zealand and Argentina on the world fresh fruit market.

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