South Africa’s quarterly farm exports surge, US shipments rise
South African agricultural exports rose 10% in the second quarter from the same period a year ago, buoyed by higher volumes and better prices.
The total shipments of $4.1-billion was a record for the second quarter, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. While lower than the same period last year, shipments to the US climbed 56% from the first quarter as the effective tariff rate declined to 12.5% from 30%, the chamber said.
“South Africa has had a solid start to 2026,” Sihlobo said in a note on Monday. “Still, in the current environment of heightened geo-economic tensions, South Africa’s export-oriented agricultural sector must focus on maintaining its existing export markets and expanding into new ones.”
Agriculture has been a rare bright spot for South Africa’s economy with exports rising steadily over the last two decades as a growing citrus industry and a diversification into other types of fruits and nuts added to the country’s corn shipments.
Exports were also helped by improved performance at the Cape Town port, the chamber said. Exports to other African countries accounted for 40% of shipments.
While South Africa has a record corn crop this year, harvests of the grain and other produce may fall in the coming season due to anticipated El Niño weather phenomenon, which usually brings dry weather to Southern Africa.
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