The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) highlighted an increase in South Africa's agricultural exports by 6% year-on-year, totaling $3.1 billion in the first quarter. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz chief economist, noted that grapes, apples, pears, maize, wine, apricots, sugar, wool, fruit juices, and peaches led the export list.
The African continent remained the primary market, absorbing 42% of these exports, with maize, cereal meals and pellets, sugar, prepared foods, apples and pears, fruit juices, wheat, ciders, other fermented beverages, and soybean oil being the main products. The European Union (EU) was the second-largest market, receiving grapes, apricots, peaches, cherries, plums, wine, apples and pears, dates, figs, avocados, guavas, mangos, wool, and fruit juices.
Asia and the Middle East collectively formed the third-largest market with a 19% share, importing mainly apples and pears, grapes, wool, sugar, beef, citrus, apricots, cherries, peaches, mutton, lamb, and soybeans. The Americas and the rest of the world, including the United Kingdom, accounted for 6% and 10% of the exports, respectively. Despite the export growth, South Africa also imported agricultural products worth $1.6 billion in the same period, marking a 4% decrease from the previous year due to lower volumes and prices of major imports like wheat and rice.
Source: iol.co.za