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SOUTH AFRICA’S AGRICULTURAL TRADE PERFORMANCE REMAINED POSITIVE IN Q1 2026

National Agricultural Marketing CouncilRef: https://www.namc.co.za/south-africas-agricultural-trade-performance-remained-positive-in-q1-2026/

Official source

Source domain: namc.co.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 28 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is a NAMC (National Agricultural Marketing Council) commentary/press-style report titled “South Africa’s agricultural trade performance remained positive in Q1 2026.” It states that in Q1 2026 South Africa’s agricultural exports increased by 11% year-on-year to about US$3.71 billion (≈R63.6 billion), while imports declined by 3% year-on-year to about US$1.86 billion, improving the overall trade balance. It highlights leading export commodities (e.g., table grapes, raw cane sugar, soya beans, lemons, fresh apples, wine) and leading import commodities (e.g., wheat and meslin, palm oil, rice), and discusses risks such as shipping disruptions, higher logistics costs, tariff pressures, and Middle East instability affecting perishable exports.

Facts

Reference

https://www.namc.co.za/south-africas-agricultural-trade-performance-remained-positive-in-q1-2026/

Amounts

R 63 600 000 000

Key Takeaways

  • Document title: South Africa’s agricultural trade performance remained positive in Q1 2026
  • Exports: +11% y/y to ~US$3.71 billion (≈R63.6 billion) in Q1 2026
  • Imports: -3% y/y to ~US$1.86 billion in Q1 2026
  • Trade balance expansion: +29% from US$1.4 billion (Q1 2025) to improved balance in Q1 2026
  • Leading export destination: Netherlands (~20% of export value), then UK (9%), Zimbabwe (9%), Namibia (6%), Mozambique (6%), Botswana (6%)
  • Leading export region: Africa ~44% (~US$1.6 billion), then EU 26%, Asia & Middle East 14%, UK 9%, Americas 4%, USA 2%
  • Key export commodity: table grapes (22% of total exports); strongest growth: raw cane sugar solid form (+479%), soya beans (+258%), lemons (+85%), fresh apples (+50%), wine (+32%); maize exports declined (-20%)
  • Key import commodities: wheat and meslin (together 9%), palm oil (7%), rice (6%), raw cane solid form (4%), food preparations (3%)
  • Import declines noted: rice (-19%), palm oil (-7%), coffee (-25%), coffee extracts/essences/concentrates (-17%)
  • Import growth noted: sunflower seeds (broken or not) (+28,853%), frozen cuts and edible offal of fowls (+46%), uncooked pasta (+34%), raw cane solid form (+32%)
  • Risks mentioned: shipping disruptions, higher logistics costs, tariff-related pressures, USA reciprocal tariffs, Middle East conflict disrupting routes (e.g., Strait of Hormuz), affecting perishable exports
  • National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)
  • Markets and Economic Research Centre (MERC)
  • Dr Victor Thindisa
  • Bhekani Zondo
  • Simphiwe Mlotshwa
  • Phelelani Sibiya
  • Solly Molepo
  • Trade Map (2026)
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom (UK)
  • Zimbabwe
  • Namibia
  • Mozambique
  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Indonesia
  • Thailand