The African continent is at the heart of South Africa’s agricultural export success

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When we consider exports in South Africa’s agriculture, we typically overlook the importance of the African continent. Such an approach is wrong; the continent is central to our agricultural export success so far. In 2025, South Africa’s agriculture exported a record US$15.1 billion, up 10% from a year ago. Nearly half of these exports went to the African continent.

Indeed, the continent’s prominence differs product by product. Still, there is no way we would have been able to enjoy this export success, where we are now ranked 32nd among global agricultural exporters and the only African country in the top 40, without the preferential access to the broader continent.

As we continue to work to access more of Asia, the Middle East, and various parts of the world, it's equally important to take a step back and acknowledge the value this continent has played in our agricultural success journey.

We discuss more in this podcast.
30 Mar English South Africa Investing · Food

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