South Africa, a key African exporter of vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and carrots, witnessed a 7.6% decrease in vegetable export earnings in 2023, totaling $190 million, down from $206 million in 2022. This marks the lowest level in at least seven years, with a $17.2 million decrease from the previous five-year average of $207 million.
The decline, attributed to export prohibitions by major Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) markets and reduced domestic vegetable production, was anticipated. Despite this, Africa continued to be the primary market for South African vegetable exports, accounting for 69% of the total value, with leading exports being potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce.
The Sacu plus Mozambique (Sacu+M) bloc, comprising Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Mozambique, remained significant for South African exports, though its share decreased to 54% in 2023 from 60% in 2020 due to export bans. Mozambique emerged as the largest African market, absorbing 33% of South Africa's vegetable exports, followed by Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe. The European Union (EU) was the second-largest market, purchasing 22% of South Africa's vegetable exports, with pumpkins, squash, gourds, onions, carrots, mushrooms, asparagus, and eggplant being the top exports. Notably, the top 10 EU countries importing South African vegetables, tubers, or roots all registered increases in 2023, with significant markets including the Netherlands, the UK, and Italy.
Source: businesslive.co.za