South Africa’s farm exports hit $15.1bn record as US shipments slump

The figure represents a 10 percent year-on-year increase and marks the seventh consecutive annual rise in agricultural exports, underscoring the sector’s growing resilience amid shifting global trade dynamics.

The strong overall performance came despite mounting trade pressures from the United States, where new tariffs on selected agricultural goods significantly dented South African shipments.

“The tariffs imposed on some products weighed heavily on shipments to the US in the latter part of the year,” Sihlobo said, highlighting the growing uncertainty surrounding South Africa’s access to the American market.

While exports to the US weakened, South Africa increasingly leaned on other regions to sustain growth. The rest of Africa emerged as the country’s largest agricultural export destination, accounting for 53 percent of shipments in the fourth quarter. Asia and the Middle East accounted for 17 percent combined, while the European Union accounted for 16 percent.

By contrast, the Americas, including the United States, accounted for just 4 percent of South Africa’s agricultural exports during the period, underscoring a notable shift in trade patterns.

Analysts say the trend could deepen if tariff barriers persist, further positioning Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as key growth engines for South African farm exports in the years ahead.