The performance of the agricultural economy as a whole over this period, the country’s exports have shown resilience. Data from the International Trade Centre Trade Map shows that South Africa’s agricultural exports totalled about US$4.1 billion in the third quarter, representing an impressive 22 per cent increase from US$3.4 billion in the second quarter. 

Moreover, the figure was up by 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. The main exports are oranges, soft citrus fruits, corn, lemons, nuts, wine, and avocados. This is reported by
Pretoria News, a partner of TV BRICS.

South Africa imported about US$1.95 billion worth of agricultural products in the third quarter, up 5 per cent from the previous quarter and up 11% from a year earlier. Wheat and meslin was the leading imported commodity with a 10% share in value terms, followed by polished rice (8 per cent), palm oil (6 per cent), food preparations (3 per cent), raw sugarcane (3 per cent) and frozen poultry (2 per cent).

The main commodities driving import growth were crude sunflower oil, sugarcane, coffee extracts and poultry meat. The main supplier markets for products imported by South Africa were Thailand, China, Brazil, Eswatini, Indonesia and India.

The agricultural sector not only generates vital export earnings. It also contributes to job creation and food security. The agricultural sector employed about 935,000 people in the third quarter, an increase of 4.4 per cent over the second quarter.

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