Fruit and nuts alone accounted for 26% of total agricultural exports in the last quarter of 2025.

The Department of Agriculture has commended the strong performance in exports, which reached the highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The country’s total exports reached a record R581.5bn by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, and agriculture contributed R268.7bn.

Agriculture exports grew year-on-year by an average of 9% when compared to Q4 of 2024, at R243.7bn.

The strongest-performing export categories included table grapes, maize, berries, wine, citrus, apples and pears; sugar, nuts, fruit juices, wool, apricots, cherries and peaches.

“A sector that is not only resilient, but increasingly strategic in its approach to global markets. While agricultural exports to the United States declined sharply by 36% in Q4 of 2025 as a direct result of higher tariffs, our diversification strategy has clearly borne fruit.

“Strong growth to BRICS countries, the United Kingdom, the European Union and SADC more than offset those losses,” said Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

Exports are still, however, skewed towards Africa, at 53%, Asia and Middle East at 17%, the EU at 16%, and 14% to the rest of the world including North and South America.

Export growth areas in 2025 were the UK at 21%, BRICS countries at 31%, the EU at 9%, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at 8%.

“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, which is currently en route.

“These developments will go a long way to further increasing the value of the sector’s contribution to South Africa’s exports,” said the minister.

“We also gained market access for table grapes to the Republic of Korea during January 2026, and our first shipment will head there for the first time in the 2026/27 season.

“We are also speeding up the conclusion of market access negotiations with the Philippines for apples and pears, and their experts will be undertaking verification to South Africa during the last week of [this month],” said Steenhuisen.

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