South Africa’s agricultural sector has delivered a record export performance in the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring its resilience and global competitiveness, despite significant headwinds in the global trading environment.
According to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, the country’s total exports reached a record R581.5 billion by the end of the fourth quarter, with agriculture contributing R268.7 billion, the highest performance since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agricultural exports grew 9% year-on-year, compared with the R243.7 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The performance was achieved despite a number of challenges, including a strengthening rand, tighter regulatory measures in some export markets, and the impact of 30% “Liberation Day” tariffs by the United States.
Steenhuisen said the figures highlight a sector that is increasingly strategic in how it approaches global markets.
“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 BRICS+ countries, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and SADC [Southern African Development Community] more than offset those losses,” the Minister said in a statement on Thursday.
Diversified export markets
Africa remains South Africa’s largest agricultural export destination, accounting for about 53% of exports, followed by Asia and the Middle East at 17%, the European Union at 16%, and 14% to the rest of the world, including North and South America.
Among the fastest-growing markets in 2025 were the United Kingdom, with export growth of 21%, and BRICS+ countries, which recorded a 31% increase.
Exports to the European Union grew by 9%, while trade within SADC increased by 8%.
The sector also recorded a stronger agricultural trade surplus of R24.6 billion in the fourth quarter, up from about R20 billion in 2024, underscoring agriculture’s contribution to South Africa’s balance of payments.
Steenhuisen attributed this achievement to government support for 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.
“Our sector has also embraced modernisation, which is continuing to bear fruit. The adoption of new farming methods has led to commercial farms raising yield per hectare by embracing satellite-guided fertilisation, drone-based pest scouting, and soil moisture sensors embedded in variable-rate irrigation rigs, reducing water utilisation by 18% to 25%,” the Minister said.
Investment in irrigation and infrastructure
Government policy support, through the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), has also helped to unlock R1.2 billion in investment from public and private financial institutions for irrigation upgrades and packhouse expansion.
The investments have contributed to a 15% reduction in post-harvest losses since 2024.
Steenhuisen said the agricultural sector continues to play a critical role in the country’s economy, both as a generator of foreign exchange and a driver of employment.
Primary agriculture contributes about 2.8% to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP), while the broader agricultural value chain accounts for about 14% of the country’s R7.34 trillion GDP, based on 2024 figures. The sector also supports roughly 950 000 jobs.
Key export products
South Africa’s strongest-performing agricultural exports in 2025 included table grapes, maize, berries, wine, citrus, apples and pears, sugar, nuts, fruit juices and wool.
Stone fruits, such as apricots, cherries and peaches, also featured prominently amongst the export products.
Fruits and nuts alone accounted for about 26% of total agricultural exports during the fourth quarter.
Steenhuisen said the strong export performance provides a platform for expanding market access and strengthening trade partnerships.
“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,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
