South Africa has ranked among the world’s 30 largest food exporters, underscoring the country’s growing influence in global agricultural trade.
- South Africa is now among the world’s 30 largest food exporters, indicating its rising role in global agriculture.
- In 2024, South Africa exported $13.6 billion in agricultural products, making up about 0.9% of global agricultural trade.
- Despite new US tariffs and trade tensions, South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a record $15.1 billion in 2025.
- The rest of Africa became South Africa’s largest agricultural export market by late 2025, absorbing 53% of its shipments.
South Africa has ranked among the world’s 30 largest food exporters, underscoring the country’s growing influence in global agricultural trade.
According to data from the World Trade Organisation, South Africa recorded approximately $13.6 billion in agricultural exports, representing about 0.9% of global agricultural trade in 2024. The ranking places the country among a relatively small group of nations responsible for supplying the majority of traded food worldwide.
Together, the world’s top agricultural exporters account for more than 80% of the $1.5 trillion global agricultural export market. The top 10 exporters alone control nearly half of global agricultural trade, giving a handful of economies significant influence over food prices, supply chains, and food security.
South Africa’s inclusion highlights the country’s expanding role as a major agricultural producer on the continent, particularly as global food systems continue to face pressure from climate disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and shifting trade policies.
Record exports
The country’s agricultural sector closed 2025 on a historic high, with exports reaching a record $15.1 billion despite growing trade tensions with the United States. New tariffs imposed by the US on selected agricultural products significantly affected South African shipments during the second half of the year.
However, South Africa offset declining exports to the US by strengthening trade ties with other regions.
The rest of Africa emerged as the country’s largest agricultural export destination, accounting for 53% of shipments in the fourth quarter of 2025. Asia and the Middle East represented a combined 17%, while the European Union accounted for 16%.
By comparison, the Americas, including the United States, contributed just 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports during the same period, reflecting a significant shift in the country’s export strategy and trade relationships.
The figures point to South Africa’s increasing diversification away from traditional Western markets as it deepens agricultural trade across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
