South Africa's agricultural sector has demonstrated impressive growth, with exports increasing by 6% to reach $3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz). Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz's chief economist, attributed this growth to strong performances in the export of grapes, apples, pears, maize, wine, apricots, sugar, wool, fruit juices, and peaches.
The African continent remains the largest market for South African agricultural products, absorbing 42% of the exports. Key exports to Africa included maize, cereal meals and pellets, sugar, prepared foods, apples and pears, fruit juices, wheat, ciders, other fermented beverages, and soybean oil.
The European Union (EU) is the second-largest market, receiving significant quantities of grapes, apricots, peaches, cherries, plums, wine, apples and pears, dates, figs, avocados, guavas, mangos, wool, and fruit juices.
Asia and the Middle East collectively accounted for 19% of South Africa's agricultural exports, with major imports being 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, made up 6% and 10% of the exports, respectively.
Despite the robust export growth, South Africa imported agricultural products worth $1.6 billion during the same period, marking a 4% decrease from the previous year. This reduction is primarily due to lower volumes and prices of major imports such as wheat and rice.
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