South Africa's agricultural exports dropped 2% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, to $2.9 billion. However, according to Agricultural Business Chamber chief economist Wandile Sihlobo, they were 5% higher than the last quarter of 2022. According to Sihlobo, South Africa's agricultural sector had a rough start to the year when it came to production and exports: "The excessive rains brought production challenges that delayed the summer crop planting activity by roughly a month, but later improved. Regarding exports, slowing agricultural commodity prices reduced profitability from the levels farmers enjoyed a year ago, specifically grains and oilseeds.”
Moreover, some logistical challenges persisted in Cape Town port and this had negatively affected table grape and various horticultural product exports. The top exportable products were grapes, maize, apples and pears, wine, wool, apricots and peaches, sugar, fruit juices and soybeans. The African continent remained the largest market for South Africa's agricultural exports in the first quarter, accounting for 39% in value terms.
Source: iol.co.za