Fresh fruit from South Africa to the Gulf, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Benficus Limited is a company incorporated in Hong Kong. It trades fresh fruit internationally: we purchase in South Africa and sell to importers and wholesalers in the United Arab Emirates, Europe and Southeast Asia.

The model is deliberately narrow — one origin, a small number of product groups, three destination regions. A narrow focus lets us plan around the Southern Hemisphere season and keep each shipment simple to document.

Three habits govern how we work. Terms are plain: product, volume, price and timing are put in writing before a shipment is arranged. We buy to specification: what the destination market asks for — grade, size, packing — not what is simply available. And shipments are documented: each consignment is organised so that the papers required on the route are ready before loading.

We trade fresh fruit from South Africa, in four product groups. The range follows the Southern Hemisphere season; varieties, sizes and pack formats are agreed with the buyer for each shipment.^†† Range, varieties and availability depend on the season and are agreed per order.

1. 2.1Citrus

   Oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruit.

   South Africa is one of the world’s large citrus exporters, and citrus is the natural first product for a buyer in Europe, the Gulf or Southeast Asia looking for supply from the southern season.

   

2. 2.2Table grapes

   Fresh grapes for retail and wholesale.

   Grown in the Cape and along the Orange River. Grapes are a delicate product, so packing and the cold chain matter more than anywhere else in the range.

   

3. 2.3Apples & pears

   Pome fruit from the Western Cape.

   A storage crop: it keeps well and handles a long sea route, which makes it one of the most practical products for distant markets.

   

4. 2.4Stone fruit

   Plums, peaches, nectarines.

   A short summer season with a narrow window for shipping. We buy it when the season allows and the buyer’s timing fits.

   

One origin, three destination regions. South Africa’s season is the mirror image of the Northern Hemisphere’s, so fruit from the south reaches Europe and the Gulf when local supply is low.

Origin

South Africa All purchasing happens in South Africa. We buy fresh fruit from growers and packers according to the specification of the destination market and organise the shipment from there.

Destination(a)

United Arab Emirates The Gulf imports most of its fresh fruit. Buyers there — importers and wholesalers — look to the southern season for citrus, grapes and pome fruit.

Destination(b)

Europe When European orchards are out of season, fruit from the south fills the shelves. We supply importers and wholesalers who plan around that window.

Destination(c)

Southeast Asia Temperate fruit does not grow in the region’s climate, so citrus, grapes, apples and pears are imported all year round. We sell them to importers and wholesalers.

1. 4.1

   Purchase. We buy fresh fruit in South Africa, from growers and packers, to the specification the buyer needs. Product, volume, price and timing are put in writing before a shipment is arranged.

2. 4.2

   Specification and packing. Product, grade, size and packing are agreed with the buyer before anything is loaded. Fruit is packed for sea transport.

3. 4.3

   Shipping. Fruit moves in temperature-controlled containers so that the cold chain stays unbroken.

4. 4.4

   Delivery. The shipment travels with the export and import documents the route requires, to the buyer’s receiving point. Every route has its own export, phytosanitary, customs and labelling requirements; we plan shipments so that the documents required at origin and at destination are in order before the fruit leaves South Africa.

Fruit is packed for sea transport and moves in temperature-controlled containers. Product, grade, size, pack format, labelling and shipping documents are agreed with the buyer before loading, and not every product is available at every time of the year.

Packing is agreed per order, not assumed.^‡‡ For an enquiry, send the product, volume, destination and timing.

Legal name

Benficus Limited

Jurisdiction

Hong Kong

Registered office

Suite A, 6/F., Ritz Plaza, 122 Austin Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Business

International trading of fresh fruit

E-mail

[email protected]

Telephone

+372 5698 5596

The fastest route is e-mail. We reply to trade enquiries from importers and wholesalers.

Write to [email protected] or telephone +372 5698 5596.

Please include the product and, if known, variety and size; the volume and how often; the destination and receiving point; and when the fruit is needed.