South Africa’s agricultural exports rose 10% year on year to US$4.1 billion in the second quarter of 2026, taking first-half exports to US$7.8 billion. Africa remained the sector’s largest regional market, while fruit, maize, wine, wool and nuts featured prominently in the export mix.
South Africa’s agricultural exports maintained their strong start to 2026 in the second quarter, with shipments worth US$4.1 billion, up 10% from the same quarter a year earlier.
The figures, compiled from International Trade Centre Trade Map data and analysed by agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo, put agricultural exports for the first six months of 2026 at US$7.8 billion — 11% higher than in the first half of 2025.
The export basket remained broad. Citrus, apples and pears, maize, wine, dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes, wool, sugar, fruit juices, grapes and nuts were among the products that featured strongly during the quarter. Sihlobo attributed the higher export value to a combination of stronger volumes across several products and improved commodity prices.
Africa remains the anchor market
The regional breakdown shows how important neighbouring and wider African markets remain to South African agriculture.
Africa accounted for 40% of agricultural export value in Q2, with maize, apples and pears, processed foods, sugar, fruit juice, soybean oil, wine and sunflower oil among the goods sold into the continent. Asia and the Middle East together accounted for 24%, while the European Union represented 21%. The Americas accounted for 5%, with the remaining 10% going to other destinations, including the United Kingdom.
That distribution also illustrates the different roles played by export markets. Regional African trade remains especially important for grains and processed agricultural products, while citrus, deciduous fruit, avocados, wine, wool and nuts provide substantial exposure to markets further afield.
The second-quarter performance follows an already strong first quarter. The National Agricultural Marketing Council reported agricultural exports of approximately US$3.71 billion in Q1 2026, also 11% higher year on year. Africa accounted for about 44% of exports during that quarter.
Together, the two quarters indicate that the first-half export performance was not driven by a single short-lived monthly surge.
Imports also increased
South Africa remains a substantial agricultural importer despite its export surplus.
Agricultural imports amounted to approximately US$2.0 billion in Q2, an increase of 12% from a year earlier. Major imported products included wheat, palm oil, poultry and whisky. First-half agricultural imports reached about US$3.9 billion, 5% higher than in the corresponding 2025 period.
The result was an agricultural trade surplus of approximately US$2.1 billion for the quarter, up 9% year on year.
For context, SARS recorded a broader merchandise-trade surplus of R17.8 billion in June 2026, based on exports of R193.6 billion and imports of R175.8 billion. That figure covers all merchandise and should not be confused with the narrower agricultural trade balance.
Port performance shows improvement
Export volumes only translate into farm-sector value if produce can move through the logistics system efficiently, particularly for time-sensitive fruit.
Sihlobo’s Q2 assessment points to less export friction than South African agriculture experienced in some recent periods, while still identifying the Port of Cape Town as an area where further improvement is needed.
Official Transnet National Ports Authority data support the broader improvement trend. TNPA reported in July that container-terminal ship turnaround time at Cape Town had fallen from 103 hours in 2023/24 to 74 hours in 2025/26 and was averaging 58 hours year to date in 2026/27. Container volumes in 2025/26 were 6.5% above the previous financial year.
Those figures do not mean every agricultural shipment moved without delay, but they provide evidence of measurable improvement in an export gateway that is particularly important to the Western Cape fruit industry.
U.S. exports recovered quarter on quarter — but timing matters
Agricultural exports to the United States reached approximately US$123 million in Q2, a 56% increase from the first quarter. They were nevertheless still 25% below Q2 2025, and the U.S. accounted for about 3% of South Africa’s total agricultural exports in the quarter. Citrus, grapes, wine and fruit juice are among the sectors with meaningful U.S. exposure.
There is an important timing distinction around tariffs.
The United States’ final 12.5% Section 301 additional tariff on South African goods, subject to specified exemptions, only became effective at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on 24 July 2026 — after the second quarter had ended. USTR said the measure followed its Section 301 investigation concerning forced-labour import prohibitions.
The Q2 improvement in U.S.-bound exports therefore should not be attributed specifically to the 12.5% tariff that took effect in July. Other tariff arrangements and trading conditions during the quarter require separate analysis.
A broad export base remains important
The headline number is positive for South African agriculture: exports rose by double digits, the agricultural trade surplus expanded, and demand was spread across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
For farmers and agribusinesses, the figures also underline how export performance depends on more than production alone. Harvest size, international prices, market access, tariffs, phytosanitary compliance and port performance all influence how much value ultimately reaches overseas markets.
With agricultural exports already at US$7.8 billion halfway through 2026, the next test will be whether that momentum can be maintained amid changing weather, logistics and international trade conditions.
Editorial note: Information in this report was compiled from multiple sources considered credible and reasonably verifiable at the time of publication. Developing information may change after publication. Agri Online welcomes factual corrections or updates at admin@agrionline.co.za.
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