Stakeholders in the table grape and raisin industry are moving decisively to reduce the operational risks that have historically disrupted peak export periods at the Port of Cape Town as the sector turns its attention to the 2026 export season, .
Through the renewal of a Public Sector Partnership (PSP) between industry players, the Western Cape Government and Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), the industry is reinforcing cold-chain resilience at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT), a critical export gateway for high-value deciduous fruit.
The PSP, successfully implemented during the 2024/25 deciduous fruit export season, will once again be deployed in 2025/26 to support operational readiness during peak weeks. Central to the initiative is the deployment of two additional 500kVA generators from Week 52 to Week 11, each equipped with 60 dedicated reefer plug points.
The additional infrastructure creates an extra reefer stack during periods of high demand, providing much-needed capacity during congestion, weather delays or power disruptions.
The initiative forms part of a broader shift from reactive crisis management to structured forward planning for the South African Table Grape Industry (SATI).
SATI CEO Mecia Petersen said continued collaboration between industry, government and port authorities has become essential to protecting export volumes and market reputation.
“The agricultural sector remains fully committed to working alongside government and other public sector stakeholders to strengthen critical export infrastructure,” Petersen said.
Petersen also added that the partnership reflects the industry’s proactive approach to safeguarding South Africa’s international competitiveness.
“By investing collaboratively in practical solutions such as additional reefer capacity, we are protecting export markets, supporting jobs, and contributing to long-term economic growth,” adds Petersen.
Cold-chain stability is a commercial imperative for the table grape and raisin industry, where even short disruptions can translate into quality degradation, financial losses and reputational damage in export markets. South Africa competes directly with other southern hemisphere producers, making reliability a key differentiator.
Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF) CEO Piet de Jager said reinstating the project is aimed at ensuring both the terminal and exporters remain prepared for unforeseen operational challenges.
“A key objective of reinstating this project is to ensure that both the terminal and the fruit industry remain fully prepared for unforeseen operational disruptions, such as multiple wind bound days,” de Jager said.
“By having additional plug points available throughout the peak season, CTCT can maintain cold-chain integrity regardless of such disruptions.”
The PSP is jointly funded by the Western Cape Government, FPEF, Hortgro, SATI, Santam and the KAL Group, with coordination by Agbiz , reflecting a growing trend of shared-risk investment in export infrastructure rather than reliance on public funding alone.
Western Cape Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Ivan Meyer said the initiative aligns with the province’s Growth for Jobs strategy, underlining the link between port efficiency and economic outcomes.
“The Port of Cape Town is a strategic economic asset for the Western Cape and South Africa, with its efficiency directly linked to job creation, investment, and global competitiveness,” Meyer said.
zanele@vutivibusiness.co.za
