Global trade disruption creates new export opportunities for South African agriculture

Speaking at the 2026 Hortgro Technical Symposium, Wolfe Braude, manager of the Agbiz Fruit Desk, said South Africa has significant scope to expand agricultural exports as countries reassess trading relationships and seek new suppliers. Fruit already plays a major role, accounting for about 35% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. In 2025, the value of fresh and dried deciduous-fruit exports alone was equivalent to around 70% of the value of the country’s diamond exports.

Global trade relationships are shifting

In an interview with Anna Mouton published in Hortgro's Fresh Quarterly magazine, Braude explained that one of the biggest changes has been the growing influence of China. Between 2000 and 2024, China became the dominant trading partner across large parts of Asia, Africa, South America, the Middle East and Oceania, overtaking the United States and European Union in many regions. At the same time, changing US trade policy has encouraged countries to strengthen existing trade relationships and seek new partners.

For South African agriculture, this creates an opportunity to reduce dependence on traditional destinations and pursue greater access in Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa. Braude said BRICS and BRICS+ markets currently account for only about 13% of South Africa’s overall trade, despite these countries importing significant volumes of agricultural products.

South Africa wants better tariff access

A major challenge is that South African exporters often compete against countries that already enjoy preferential tariff arrangements. “As soon as you step east of Africa, our competitors have deals, but we haven’t had similar agreements,” Braude said.

Government is therefore reviewing existing agreements while pursuing stronger relationships with markets including China and India. South Africa is negotiating an Early Harvest Agreement with China and is also discussing a Preferential Trade Agreement with India. The African Continental Free Trade Area offers another opportunity. Africa imports around US$60 billion worth of agricultural products annually, providing significant potential for South African suppliers if tariff, logistics and market-access barriers can be overcome.

Trade agreements can speed up fruit access

For fresh produce exporters, tariffs are only one part of the challenge. Fruit cannot enter a market until phytosanitary requirements have been negotiated, a process that can take years. Braude said broader trade agreements can help accelerate these negotiations by creating stronger government-to-government frameworks within which sanitary and phytosanitary issues can be addressed. This is particularly relevant for South Africa’s pome and stone fruit industries, where access to new markets can provide additional outlets as production expands.

Domestic logistics remain a barrier

South Africa’s own infrastructure problems continue to weaken its competitiveness. Agbiz and fruit industry organisations are working on issues including port inefficiency, rail constraints and deteriorating rural roads. Braude described these as “self-imposed trade barriers”, noting the difficulties fruit exporters have experienced through the Port of Cape Town in recent seasons. Agbiz supports greater public-private cooperation in logistics, including possible concessions for key port operations.

Why this matters for South African producers

Global trade disruption can create opportunities, but South African growers will benefit only if the country can convert diplomatic engagement into commercially usable market access. That means securing competitive tariffs, completing phytosanitary protocols and ensuring fruit can move efficiently from farm to overseas customer.

For producers, greater market diversification could reduce exposure to individual markets and give exporters more options when supply, prices or trade conditions change. South Africa already runs a substantial agricultural trade surplus. The opportunity now is to use changing global trade relationships to widen the range of markets buying South African produce, while addressing the domestic logistics constraints that can undermine that advantage.

For more information, watch the interview below, recorded with Wolfe Braude at the Hortgro Technical Symposium by the Lucentlands Podcast: