South African agriculture occupies a prominent place on the global stage, with exports contributing significantly to the country’s economy. The most exported products by value include citrus fruits, apples and pears, maize, wine, dates, pineapples, avocados, sugar, grapes, fruit juices, nuts and wool.
In recent years, the agricultural sector has seen solid export growth, reaching a record $13.2 billion in 2023. Despite challenges at ports, this remarkable performance has positioned South Africa as the only country on the continent in the world’s top 40 agricultural exporters.
However, an analysis of recent data indicates a slight decline in agricultural exports by value in the second quarter of this year. While the first quarter recorded a growth of 6% compared to the previous year, the second quarter saw a decrease of 0.1%, mainly due to lower prices of some agricultural products and reduced volumes.
The main exported products include citrus fruits, apples and pears, maize, wine, dates, pineapples, avocados, sugar, grapes, fruit juices, nuts and wool.
Regionally, Africa remains the main market for South African agricultural exports, accounting for 42% of the total value. The most exported products to the continent include maize, maize flour, sugar, apples and pears, wheat, soya oil, fruit juices, ciders and wine.
Asia and the Middle East is the second largest agricultural market, accounting for 21% of total exports in the second quarter of 2024. The main products exported to this region are citrus fruits, apples and pears, wool, nuts, sugar, beef, sheep and goat meat, berries, wine and maize.
Europe ranks third as an agricultural market for South Africa, with a share of 19%. The main products exported to Europe are citrus fruits, dates, avocados, figs, mangoes, guavas, apples, pears, wine, grapes, fruit juices, wool and nuts.
The Americas region accounts for 6% of South Africa’s agricultural exports in the second quarter of the year. The main exported products include citrus fruits, wine, fruit juices, grapes, apples, pears and nuts. The rest of the world, including the UK, accounts for 12% of exports.
Agricultural trade is not one-sided. In the second quarter of 2024, South African agricultural imports reached $1.89 billion, up 5% from the previous year, mainly due to increased volumes of major commodities such as wheat, palm oil, rice and poultry.
Despite a slight decline from the previous year, South African agriculture recorded a trade surplus of $1.47 billion in the second quarter of 2024. These encouraging results highlight the need to maintain export-friendly policies and continue to invest in logistics infrastructure to ensure continued growth of the sector.
In conclusion, despite the challenges faced, South African agriculture remains a key pillar of the country’s economy and a major player on the global stage. It is crucial to support this strategic sector by promoting the expansion of export markets and investing in the necessary infrastructure to ensure its competitiveness on an international scale.