Although it is commonly accepted that South Africa should expand its agricultural export markets to new frontiers such as India, China, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, amongst others, industry experts claim the export drive should not be at the expense of the existing markets.
SA growers should actively engage with existing markets to stimulate the continued expansion of South African agricultural exports. The engagement should focus on the EU and Asia, both crucial regions for export growth, and the rest of the African continent.
The African continent remains the largest export market for South Africa's agriculture. In the record agricultural exports of US$12,8 billion in 2022, the African continent accounted for 37%. Importantly, this was not an anomaly. The continent has accounted, on average, for 38% of South Africa's agricultural exports by value per annum over the past five years. Unlike the other regions South Africa exports to, where the composition of products is predominantly fruits, beef, wool and wine, maize is the leading export product in the African continent. Other products exported to the rest of the African continent include apples, wheat, animal feed, prepared foods, wine, fruit juices, soybean oil, sunflower oil, alcoholic beverages, and soybean oilcake.
The leading markets were Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, Angola, Nigeria, and Mauritius. Except for Nigeria, these markets are within the Southern African Development Community's Free Trade Area, which has benefited South Africa greatly.
Source: agricultureportal.co.za