Photos
Announcements
Job offersmore »
Specialsmore »
Recent commentsmore »
- India: Kashmir apple growers begin spraying (2)
- US: EW Brandt & Sons introduces a new clamshell (1)
- South African fresh fruit exports to US expected to grow (1)
- Israel: Ginosar experienced in banana cultivation (6)
- Japan: Aeon to bid for Carrefour's Asia assets (2)
- Local company develops food tracking system (1)
- RSA: Tru-Cape Marketing supports growers with scientific and technical advice (2)
- New organic packaging for iceberg lettuce (1)
- India: Machine to separate fruit from pulp soon (1)
- Australia: Fruit picker shortage in Katherine (21)
Top 5 - yesterday
- No news was published yesterday.
Top 5 - last week
Top 5 - last month
Other news more »
- As Clock Ticks, Lawmakers Revisit Bush Tax Cuts - NPR
- Bombing at an Iraqi army base in Baghdad kills 12, injures at least 20 - Washington Post
- Heavy rains, landslides kill at least 36 in Guatemala - CNN International
- New Zealand region nervous after powerful quake - CNN International
- Former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater says he wasn't fired, he quit - New York Daily News
- Trapped Chilean miners, families frustrated over mail delivery - Washington Post
- For GOP, tea party believers wield a double-edged sword - San Jose Mercury News
- Australian Independents Could Split Their Support, Windsor Says - BusinessWeek
- Coast Guard helicopter airlifts Gloucester fisherman - Boston Herald
- No body found in Pittsburg dump after 3 days - San Francisco Chronicle
Source: Google News
Exchange ratesmore »
- USD: 1.2834
- JPY: 108.38
- GBP: 0.83320
- AUD: 1.4094
- BRL: 2.2124
- CAD: 1.3561
- CNY: 8.7320
- NZD: 1.7900
- ZAR: 9.2645
Euro foreign exchange reference rates
Source: ECB
S. Africa becomes net food importer after 22 years
South Africa became a net food importer last year for the first time since 1985, the Ministry of Agriculture said. The country exported 29.9 billion rand ($2.9 billion) of agricultural goods and imported products valued at 30.3 billion rand, the Pretoria-based ministry said in an e-mailed report yesterday.
South Africa imported more food last year largely due to population growth, the report said. While the country's population rose 32 percent between 1991 and 2007, agricultural production only increased 10 percent during the same period.
Last year, this situation was exacerbated by food inflation and higher fuel costs, which increased the value of imports in relation to exports, it said. South Africa imports higher value processed agricultural goods while exporting lower value unprocessed products.
The European Union remains South Africa's most important export market, while imports are sourced mainly from the Mercosur countries, in particular Argentina. South Africa's main exports are wine, fruit and sugar, while its largest imports include rice, ethyl-alcohol, wheat and oilcake.
Source: bloomberg.com
South Africa became a net food importer last year for the first time since 1985, the Ministry of Agriculture said. The country exported 29.9 billion rand ($2.9 billion) of agricultural goods and imported products valued at 30.3 billion rand, the Pretoria-based ministry said in an e-mailed report yesterday.
South Africa imported more food last year largely due to population growth, the report said. While the country's population rose 32 percent between 1991 and 2007, agricultural production only increased 10 percent during the same period.
Last year, this situation was exacerbated by food inflation and higher fuel costs, which increased the value of imports in relation to exports, it said. South Africa imports higher value processed agricultural goods while exporting lower value unprocessed products.
The European Union remains South Africa's most important export market, while imports are sourced mainly from the Mercosur countries, in particular Argentina. South Africa's main exports are wine, fruit and sugar, while its largest imports include rice, ethyl-alcohol, wheat and oilcake.
Source: bloomberg.com
Publication date: 10/30/2008
respond to this article
email this article
printReceive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
Leave a comment:
