2026 Harvest Tracker: How Does This Season Compare?

2026 Harvest Tracker: How Does This Season Compare?

As the South African pecan harvest continues to gain momentum, one of the most interesting ways to assess the season is to compare harvest progress with previous years. By looking at the percentage of the final crop that had been received by the same week in earlier seasons, we can place the current harvest into valuable historical context.

By the end of Week 27, South African handlers had received 22,277 tonnes of pecans. Historically, this point in the season has represented:

• 43.1% of the final crop in 2022
• 41.6% in 2023
• 31.6% in 2024
• 39.1% in 2025

Across these four seasons, an average of 38.9% of the final crop had been delivered by Week 27.

If the 2026 harvest follows an average historical pattern, the current delivery pace would indicate a final crop of approximately 57,300 tonnes. This historical comparison does not replace SAPPA’s existing crop estimation process. Instead, it adds another objective, data-driven tool that is used alongside the current methodology to improve the accuracy of the official crop estimate as the harvest progresses. As always, weather conditions, seasonal differences, processing capacity and the timing of harvests can influence how closely the current season follows historical trends.

The export figures are equally encouraging. By Week 27, South Africa had already exported 9,224 tonnes of in-shell pecans. Relative to the crop received so far, this means that approximately 41.4% of all deliveries have already been exported. This compares favourably with previous seasons:

Season In-shell exports as % of crop received (Week 27)

• 2022:    24.1%
• 2023:    31.5%
• 2024:    31.9%
• 2025:    40.6%
• 2026:    41.4%

This suggests that exporters continue to move product through the supply chain at an impressive pace, despite the larger volumes being harvested.

Although it remains early in the harvest, both deliveries and exports indicate another strong year for the South African pecan industry. As more data become available over the coming weeks, these comparisons will provide an increasingly accurate picture of where the 2026 crop is likely to finish.