CAPE TOWN, Sept 7 – South Africa’s agricultural exports increased 10% year-on-year in the second quarter, reaching a record $4.1 billion, as stronger shipment volumes and improved prices supported the sector’s performance.
The quarterly export value was the highest recorded for a second quarter, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
The performance comes despite some weakness compared with the same period a year earlier, with export earnings supported by a combination of higher volumes and more favourable prices.
US shipments rebound
South Africa’s agricultural trade with the United States showed a particularly strong improvement during the quarter, shipments to the US increased 56% from the first quarter, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber, as the effective tariff rate on South African agricultural exports declined to 12.5% from 30%.
The reduction in the effective tariff burden provided some relief for exporters and helped improve the competitiveness of South African agricultural products in the US market.
The sharp quarterly increase comes as South African producers and exporters continue to navigate changes in global trade conditions, including tariff policies and shifting demand across major agricultural markets.
Export performance highlights resilience
The record second-quarter figure underscores the importance of agriculture to South Africa’s external trade and provides a positive signal for the country’s broader agricultural economy.
Higher volumes suggest stronger export activity, while improved prices have helped support the value of shipments despite challenging conditions in some international markets.
The increase in exports also highlights the potential benefits of maintaining access to major overseas markets as South African producers seek to expand their international customer base.
With global agricultural trade increasingly shaped by tariffs, commodity prices and changing market access conditions, the performance of South Africa’s exporters will remain closely linked to developments in key destination markets.
