Plums production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 82,381 t of plums, the 20th largest in the world (0.65% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 7.1%. The record was 111,227 t in 2022. Area harvested: 10,728 ha, yield 7.7 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 82,381 t
- World rank
- 20 of 88
- 10-year change
- +7.1%
- Record
- 111,227 t
- 2022
Plums in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.65%
- 0.69% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 7.7
- world 4.8 (+59%)
- kg per person
- 1.29
- world 1.56
- 10-year change
- +7.1%
- world +13%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Moldova | 95,125 | 0.75% |
| 19 | Algeria | 94,566 | 0.75% |
| 20 | South Africa | 82,381 | 0.65% |
| 21 | India | 67,936 | 0.54% |
| 22 | Pakistan | 63,394 | 0.50% |
Map of world production of plums
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 82,381 | −13% | 10,728 | 7.68 |
| 2023 | 94,288 | −15% | 12,192 | 7.73 |
| 2022 | 111,227 | +9.1% | 14,281 | 7.79 |
| 2021 | 101,969 | +56% | 12,718 | 8.02 |
| 2020 | 65,373 | +4.5% | 8,496 | 7.69 |
| 2019 | 62,557 | −16% | 8,142 | 7.68 |
| 2018 | 74,254 | −4.1% | 9,515 | 7.80 |
| 2017 | 77,408 | −12% | 9,483 | 8.16 |
| 2016 | 87,746 | +8.9% | 10,111 | 8.68 |
| 2015 | 80,564 | +4.8% | 9,113 | 8.84 |
| 2014 | 76,907 | +2.6% | 8,443 | 9.11 |
| 2013 | 74,926 | +26% | 8,196 | 9.14 |
| 2012 | 59,560 | −6.4% | 6,525 | 9.13 |
| 2011 | 63,634 | +4.3% | 6,981 | 9.12 |
| 2010 | 61,019 | −0.9% | 6,641 | 9.19 |
| 2009 | 61,563 | −1.7% | 6,538 | 9.42 |
| 2008 | 62,645 | +19% | 6,500 | 9.64 |
| 2007 | 52,798 | +36% | 5,500 | 9.60 |
| 2006 | 38,956 | −27% | 4,071 | 9.57 |
| 2005 | 53,608 | −21% | 4,867 | 11.01 |
| 2004 | 67,540 | +16% | 7,023 | 9.62 |
| 2003 | 58,336 | +51% | 6,725 | 8.67 |
| 2002 | 38,728 | +1.3% | 5,500 | 7.04 |
| 2001 | 38,235 | +16% | 6,000 | 6.37 |
| 2000 | 32,911 | −30% | 4,158 | 7.92 |
| 1999 | 47,282 | +28% | 5,600 | 8.44 |
| 1998 | 37,011 | −17% | 4,600 | 8.05 |
| 1997 | 44,756 | +14% | 4,700 | 9.52 |
| 1996 | 39,239 | +8.2% | 4,100 | 9.57 |
| 1995 | 36,273 | +4.2% | 4,124 | 8.80 |
| 1994 | 34,821 | +18% | 4,200 | 8.29 |
| 1993 | 29,591 | +5.8% | 3,699 | 8.00 |
| 1992 | 27,959 | −8.2% | 3,311 | 8.44 |
| 1991 | 30,448 | −0.6% | 3,570 | 8.53 |
| 1990 | 30,624 | +6.1% | 3,105 | 9.86 |
| 1989 | 28,855 | +5.0% | 3,100 | 9.31 |
| 1988 | 27,494 | +18% | 3,000 | 9.16 |
| 1987 | 23,306 | +0.6% | 2,900 | 8.04 |
| 1986 | 23,164 | +23% | 2,900 | 7.99 |
| 1985 | 18,879 | −18% | 2,900 | 6.51 |
| 1984 | 23,052 | −7.7% | 2,900 | 7.95 |
| 1983 | 24,969 | +32% | 2,900 | 8.61 |
| 1982 | 18,966 | +29% | 2,900 | 6.54 |
| 1981 | 14,689 | −18% | 2,600 | 5.65 |
| 1980 | 17,970 | +17% | 2,600 | 6.91 |
| 1979 | 15,320 | +5.1% | 2,600 | 5.89 |
| 1978 | 14,574 | −18% | 2,500 | 5.83 |
| 1977 | 17,775 | +13% | 2,500 | 7.11 |
| 1976 | 15,669 | +1.7% | 2,500 | 6.27 |
| 1975 | 15,409 | +29% | 2,500 | 6.16 |
| 1974 | 11,980 | +40% | 2,300 | 5.21 |
| 1973 | 8,537 | −45% | 2,000 | 4.27 |
| 1972 | 15,662 | +26% | 2,400 | 6.53 |
| 1971 | 12,432 | +3.2% | 2,200 | 5.65 |
| 1970 | 12,052 | −21% | 2,200 | 5.48 |
| 1969 | 15,279 | +52% | 2,200 | 6.95 |
| 1968 | 10,078 | −19% | 2,200 | 4.58 |
| 1967 | 12,395 | +15% | 2,200 | 5.63 |
| 1966 | 10,777 | −31% | 2,200 | 4.90 |
| 1965 | 15,598 | +28% | 2,400 | 6.50 |
| 1964 | 12,202 | +4.9% | 2,300 | 5.31 |
| 1963 | 11,631 | +32% | 2,200 | 5.29 |
| 1962 | 8,825 | −6.6% | 2,000 | 4.41 |
| 1961 | 9,444 | — | 2,000 | 4.72 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 82,478 t USD 103 m
- Exporter rank
- 3 of 89
- Imports
- 374 t USD 680,000
- Importer rank
- 78 of 156
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of plums in South Africa?
South Africa produced 82,381 t in 2024, 0.65% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of plums?
South Africa ranked 20th of 88 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 54.4% of the world total.
How has the production of plums in South Africa changed?
It rose by 7.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +13% for the world. The record was 111,227 t in 2022.
What is the yield of plums in South Africa?
7.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (82,381 t from 10,728 ha), against a world average of 4.8 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import plums and sloes?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 82,478 t (USD 103 m) and imports of 374 t (USD 680,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.