Beitbridge US$25m citrus plant targets exports as Schweppes deal boosts output

Beitbridge US$25m citrus plant targets exports as Schweppes deal boosts output

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A US$25 million citrus processing plant commissioned in Beitbridge is positioning itself to supply regional export markets, while already delivering juice concentrate to Schweppes Zimbabwe under a supply arrangement the company says strengthens local value addition.

The plant is run by Orangeville and was established in 2024 with an initial US$20 million outlay. A further US$5 million has since been added, with the company indicating it could ultimately invest up to US$40 million as it expands production capacity.

Orangeville said its certification to supply Schweppes is a key step in shifting from the sale of raw fruit to the production of higher-value finished products.

Beyond juice processing, the facility also extracts orange essential oil for the cosmetics sector and converts citrus residue into livestock feed pellets, creating two additional revenue streams alongside its core beverage input business.

The company currently employs about 350 people, with around 60 percent engaged as seasonal workers linked to the harvesting calendar. Orangeville expects its workforce to rise to at least 1,500 within five years as a planned 5,000-hectare citrus estate near Beitbridge comes into production and provides a more stable fruit supply for the factory.

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Company officials cited inconsistent supplies from surrounding growers, some of whom sell to higher-paying buyers, as well as high transport costs, as major constraints on output. In a statement, Orangeville said it is working to increase in-house fruit production and expand contract farming arrangements in order to stabilise volumes as it builds export relationships across southern Africa.

Water security has also been factored into operations, with about 40 percent of the plant’s water drawn from Zhove Dam, which Orangeville says helps reduce risk during forecast dry conditions that could affect production and export commitments.

Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, toured the facility last week and said Government’s role is to support the province to produce enough for both domestic demand and exports. He also encouraged diversification into fodder production to support livestock farmers during dry spells.

Orangeville’s export ambitions are being underpinned by Beitbridge’s location on one of southern Africa’s busiest trade corridors, providing road access into South Africa and wider regional markets. The company has not yet disclosed production volumes, saying harvest and export figures for the current season will be released once harvesting is complete.

For Beitbridge, traditionally seen mainly as a transit hub for cross-border trade, the company says the plant is intended to help build an industrial base anchored in agro-processing and export-focused manufacturing.

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