In 2025, South Africa's agricultural exports reached $15.1 billion, a record high, with a year-on-year growth of 10%. Although exports to the United States fell by 39% due to tariffs, the impact was effectively offset through market diversification, and optimized logistics and increased production also contributed to the growth in exports.
Xinhua Finance, Cape Town, February 11 (Reporters Wang Xiaomei, Wang Lei) Data released by the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa recently showed that despite the impact of the additional tariffs imposed by the United States on South African exports, South Africa's agricultural exports in 2025 still achieved strong growth, hitting a record high.
The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa released a report on the 9th stating that South Africa's agricultural exports reached a record 15.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, an increase of 10% compared with 2024. Affected by tariffs, South Africa's agricultural exports to the United States in 2025 decreased by 3% compared with the previous year, with an 11% drop in the third quarter and a 39% drop in the fourth quarter.
Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, pointed out in the report that the record-high agricultural exports of South Africa are attributed to the growth in agricultural output and the improvement in logistics efficiency. In addition, the active promotion of market diversification by the South African government and enterprises is also an important factor driving exports.
Data released in the report shows that in the fourth quarter of 2025, 53% of South Africa's agricultural exports went to African countries, 17% were sold to Asia and the Middle East, 16% entered EU countries, and the Americas, including the United States, accounted for only 4% of South Africa's total agricultural exports in that quarter.
Sihlobo stated that in an environment of escalating geoeconomic tensions, South Africa's agricultural products industry should, while maintaining existing markets, actively explore new ones. In particular, it should expand exports to BRICS countries such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and pay more attention to the broader Asian and Middle Eastern regions.
