South African Agricultural Exports: A Strong Performance in 2025

According to AgriView with Wandile Siholobo in a recent Youtube video on South Africa’s agricultural export, the story continues to shine in 2025. From Africa, Asia and the EU to the Americas and the Middle East, he breaks down the export costs, the key commodities, and the growing opportunities that lie ahead.

South Africa’s agricultural sector is demonstrating robust growth, with exports reaching $11.7bn in the first three quarters of 2025 — a 10% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth is driven by excellent harvests in fruits, vegetables, grains, and oilseeds, alongside solid global demand for products such as wool and red meat. Improved efficiency at South African ports, resulting from close collaboration between Transnet, organised agriculture, and logistics stakeholders under Operation Vulindlela, has also played a significant role in easing export constraints. The AgriView (Agbiz/IDC) Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) report frequently cites the progress of Operation Vulindlela as a factor influencing the sentiment of the agribusiness sector.

The third quarter of 2024 alone accounted for $4.7bn in exports, up 13% year-on-year, with key products including citrus, nuts, apples, pears, maize, sugar, and wine, highlighting the sector’s diverse production base. South Africa produces over 36 agricultural commodities, securing its position among the top 40 global agricultural exporters, ranked 32nd in 2024, and is on track to potentially surpass the $14bn in exports in 2025.

From a regional perspective, South Africa’s exports are widely distributed: Africa accounts for 34%, Asia and the Middle East for 25%, and the EU for 23%, with the Americas at 6%, and the UK and other markets making up 12%. Product mixes vary by region, with grains and some fruits going to Africa, fruits and wine to Europe, and red meat, wool, grains, and vegetable oils to Asia and the Middle East.

South Africa also imports a significant volume of agricultural products, spending $5.7bn in the first three quarters of 2025 — up 4% from the previous year. Key imports include wheat, palm oil, poultry, rice, and whisky, driven by environmental constraints that limit local production, particularly for wheat and certain tropical crops.

While strong export and production numbers are encouraging, policy considerations remain crucial. The livestock sector continues to face challenges due to ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks, which are likely to influence the sector into 2026. However, other value chains are expected to remain robust, supported by the La Niña cycle, which occurs every 2-7 years and lasts roughly 9-12 months, with widespread rainfall boosting crop production throughout the summer season.

With over half of its agricultural output already exported, South Africa faces the dual challenge of retaining current markets in Africa, the EU, the Middle East, and Asia while also expanding access in high-potential markets such as China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where annual agricultural imports exceed $20bn per country.

Exports to the United States continue, with Q2 2025 showing a 26% increase to $161mil due to temporary tariff pauses. While Q3 exports cooled slightly to $144mil, products such as macadamias, citrus, and fruit juices continued to perform well. Adjustments to U.S. tariffs are expected to further support exports of key South African products.

Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for South African agriculture, with exports projected to exceed $14bn, supported by robust harvests, improved logistics, and strong global demand. The sector’s diverse production and strategic market focus position South Africa well for continued growth and competitiveness on the world stage.

To find out more information check out the video posted by AgriView Wandile below: