MBABANE – Post-drought pineapple production in Eswatini is improving.
However, the recovery is taking longer than anticipated and continues to weigh on the performance of Rhodes Food Group’s (RFG) international segment, the company has revealed in a trading update for the 11 months ended August 2025.
The group, which operates across regional and international markets with a strong presence in Eswatini through pineapple farming and processing, reported a 2.4 per cent increase in revenue during the period. While modest, management described the performance as resilient given the challenging operating environment both locally and globally.
RFG’s Eswatini subsidiary, better known as Swazican, has been a cornerstone of the kingdom’s agro-industrial sector for more than 70 years.
Established in 1954 as the first commercial pineapple farm in the country, Swazican has since grown into one of the largest citrus canning operations in the world and a leading producer of pineapple products.
The company’s facility in the fertile Malkerns Valley manufactures a wide range of products, including choice-grade canned and bottled jams, marmalades, citrus (orange and grapefruit segments), canned pineapple (slices, pieces, and crush), citrus and pineapple juice concentrates and fruit and jelly packaged in plastic cups.
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International segment revenue declines by 8.4 per cent
MBABANE – RFG’s international segment faced greater strain, with revenue down 8.4 per cent for the 11 months.
Export volumes declined by 11.7 per cent in the first half of the year before recovering slightly in the five months to August, ending the period 7.7 per cent lower.
The drought in Eswatini played a central role in this decline. A shortage of canned pineapple stock from the kingdom constrained export capacity, contributing to weaker international revenues, which were also impacted by the global oversupply of deciduous fruit products.
As the group noted, post-drought pineapple production in Eswatini is improving, but the pace of recovery has been slower than anticipated.
This continues to affect international performance at a time when uncertainty over new U.S. tariffs, implemented in August 2025, cloud the outlook.
RFG cautioned that the ultimate impact of the tariffs would depend on whether American customers retain their contracts with the group or switch to competitors with a pricing advantage.
To mitigate risks, RFG is developing contingency plans to expand exports into existing geographies and target new markets.
Despite the current challenges, RFG has expressed confidence in Eswatini’s agricultural potential and the resilience of its operations. Speaking at the Eswatini Investment Conference earlier this year, RFG Eswatini General Manager Zakhele Lukhele announced expansion plans that will extend production into baby foods, snacks and dried fruits.
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