The Department of Agriculture said  that South Africa’s agricultural exports reached its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Department said that South Africa’s total exports reached a record R581.5 billion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, and agriculture contributed R268.7bn the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. The agriculture exports grew year-on-year by an average of 9% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, which was R243.7bn.

The Department added that this performance was achieved despite a strengthening Rand, tighter regulatory measures in some markets, and the impact of the United States’ 30% “Liberation Day” tariffs.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said the figures reflect a sector that is not only resilient but increasingly strategic in its approach to global markets.

He said, “While agricultural exports to the United States declined sharply by 36% in the fourth quarter of 2025 as a direct result of higher tariffs, our diversification strategy has clearly borne fruit. Strong growth to BRIC+ countries, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and SADC more than offset those losses.”

The Department said that exports are still skewed towards Africa, with about 53%, Asia and the Middle East at about 17%, the EU at about 16%, and 14% to the rest of the world. The export growth areas in 2025 were the UK at 21%, BRIC+ countries at 31%, the EU at 9%, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at 8%. The agricultural trade surplus rose to R24.6bn in the fourth quarter, underscoring the sector’s positive contribution to South Africa’s balance of payments when compared to the surplus of about R20 billion recorded during 2024.

The Department added that this achievement stems from government support to export-oriented horticulture, which has demanded the opening of new markets, rapid deployment of precision-agriculture tools, and expanded value-chain finance rather than pure acreage growth. 

The Department added that the Department’s policy support in terms of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) has unlocked R1.2 billion from the public and private financial institutions for irrigation upgrades and packhouse expansion, resulting in a 15% reduction in post-harvest losses since 2024. Significant agricultural exports in 2025 highlighted the sector's dual role as a generator of foreign exchange and a cornerstone of domestic food security, and about 950,000 jobs. Primary agriculture contributed about 2.8% of the GDP, but its value chain’s contribution was about 14% of the R7.34 trillion of the GDP during 2024.

The Department said that the strongest performing export categories during 2025 included table grapes, maize, berries, wine, citrus, apples, and pears; sugar, nuts, fruit juices, wool, apricots, cherries, and peaches. Notably, fruits and nuts alone accounted for 26% of total agricultural exports in this quarter.

Steenhuisen said that this momentum provides a platform for further market expansion.

He said, “Good progress has recently been made in expanding international market access for South African agricultural products. This includes newly secured market access for South African stone fruit into China, as well as the first shipment of South African table grapes to the Philippines. We also gained market access for table grapes to the Republic of Korea during January 2026 and are also speeding up the conclusion of market access negotiations with the Philippines for apples and pears.”

Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said South Africa's agricultural exports have remained strong throughout 2025 despite significant trade policy shifts and uncertainty.

“Agricultural exports in 2025 reached a record $15.1 billion (R250 Billion), up 10% from 2024. The exports were strong every quarter. The latest data for Q4 shows that South Africa's agricultural exports totalled $3.4 billion (R50 billion), up 7% from the same period a year ago. This is due to higher volumes of various product exports and better commodity prices,” he said.

Sihlobo added that the products that dominated the export list in the last quarter of 2025 were mainly table grapes, maize, berries, wine, citrus, apples, and pears, sugar, nuts, fruit juices, wool, apricots, cherries, and peaches, among others.

“While the various ports' efficiency has improved notably in recent months on the back of ongoing policy reforms in South Africa's network industries, challenges at the Port of Cape Town in November and December 2025 added to the financial difficulties faced by some producers in the fruit industry. Still, the country's overall agricultural export performance remained solid, as other ports were functioning reasonably well and continued to support export activity,” he said.

Source - https://iol.co.za