The latest data released by Statistics South Africa recently show that South Africa's agricultural export trade volume reached a new high in 2023, reaching US$13.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3% in 2022. The South African agricultural department stated that it will continue to explore the markets of developing countries in the future, especially to strengthen trade with BRICS countries to further boost the growth of South Africa's agricultural export trade.
The improvement of transportation and logistics conditions has also promoted the growth of South Africa's agricultural export trade. In the annual statistics released by Statistics South Africa in early March this year, the output value of the transportation and logistics industry increased by 4.3% year-on-year, making it the fastest growing industry in South Africa last year. The South African government will invest more than US$3 billion in 2023 to improve road networks and port facilities to create favorable conditions for South Africa's export trade, allowing some high-value-added fruits and fresh produce to reach target markets faster. Data show that South Africa’s agricultural trade surplus reached US$6.2 billion throughout the year.
Currently, the trade in agricultural products between South Africa and China is expanding steadily. Located in the southern hemisphere, South Africa's corn harvest season is from April to June every year, complementing China's corn harvest season. In November 2023, 25 tons of feed corn produced in South Africa entered the country through customs clearance at Huangdao Port in Shandong, and were then sent to a feed processing plant in Qingdao to be made into feed before entering the Chinese market. Throughout 2023, South Africa exported nearly 150,000 tons of soybeans to China, with an export value exceeding US$85 million.
The agricultural departments of South Africa and China jointly signed an agreement on the export of South African avocados to China last year. Toko Didiza, South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, said that in recent years, the total area of avocado planting in South Africa has exceeded 18,000 hectares. Entering the Chinese market is an important step in promoting the growth of South Africa's avocado exports. Derek Dugin, CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers Association, said: "The freight time from Durban, South Africa, to ports in southern China such as Shanghai is only 18 to 22 days. Expanding access to the Asian market can help South Africa's agricultural export market Diversification."
