South Africa’s agricultural exports remained strong in the second quarter of 2026, supported by a solid domestic harvest and continued global demand for food products.
Agricultural exports reached US$4.1 billion in Q2 2026, an increase of 10% compared with the same period in 2025. The growth was driven by higher export volumes across several commodities as well as improved commodity prices.
For the first six months of 2026, South Africa’s agricultural exports totalled US$7.8 billion, representing an 11% increase from the US$7.0 billion recorded during the first half of 2025.
Citrus, apples and pears, maize, wine, dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes, wool, sugar, fruit juices, grapes and nuts were among the leading products exported during the quarter.
Africa remained South Africa’s largest agricultural export market, accounting for 40% of total export value in Q2. Major products shipped to the continent included maize, apples and pears, processed foods, sugar, fruit juices, soybean oil, wine and sunflower oil.
Asia and the Middle East together represented the second-largest market, accounting for 24% of agricultural exports. Citrus, apples and pears, maize, wool, nuts, sugar, mutton, beef, berries, wine and soybeans were among the key products exported to these markets.
The European Union accounted for 21% of South Africa’s agricultural exports during the quarter. Leading exports included citrus, dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, wine, apples and pears, fruit juices and nuts.
The Americas accounted for a further 5% of exports, with citrus, wine, grapes, peaches, apricots, pears, apples and nuts among the major products shipped to the region.
South African agricultural exports to the United States also recorded a significant increase during the quarter. Exports rose 56% from the first quarter to US$123 million, with the reduction in US tariffs from 30% to 12.5% identified as a major contributor to the improvement.
Despite the quarterly increase, exports to the US remained 25% below Q2 2025, when exporters benefited from a 90-day pause before the so-called “Liberation Day tariffs” took effect. The US accounted for approximately 3% of South Africa’s total agricultural exports during Q2 2026.
Citrus, grapes, wine and fruit juices remain among the main agricultural products exported to the US. The future of this trade relationship will depend partly on whether South Africa secures favourable trading conditions through the continuation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The United Kingdom and other global markets accounted for the remaining 10% of South Africa’s agricultural exports during the quarter.
While exports performed strongly, South Africa also recorded growth in agricultural imports. Agricultural imports reached US$2.0 billion in Q2 2026, up 12% year-on-year. For the first half of the year, imports totalled US$3.9 billion, an increase of 5% compared with the first half of 2025.
Major imports included wheat, palm oil, poultry and whisky. South Africa remains dependent on imports for several agricultural products because of climatic and production constraints.
The country lacks favourable conditions for large-scale rice and palm-oil production and therefore relies heavily on imports. South Africa also imports nearly half of its annual wheat consumption, while wheat production in the Free State has declined over time because of unfavourable weather conditions and lower profitability compared with alternative crops.
Imports also account for approximately 20% of South Africa’s annual domestic poultry consumption.
Despite the increase in imports, the country maintained a substantial agricultural trade surplus. South Africa recorded an agricultural trade surplus of US$2.1 billion in Q2 2026, up 9% from the same period a year earlier.
The strong export performance highlights the importance of international markets to South Africa’s farming sector. However, with global trade tensions and geopolitical pressures continuing to influence agricultural trade, maintaining existing markets while developing new destinations will remain critical for the sector’s long-term growth.
Source: Wandile Sihlobo