South Africa’s agriculture sector closed 2025 on a historic high, with exports reaching a record US$15.1 billion, even as shipments to the United States fell sharply in the second half of the year.
South Africa’s agricultural exports climbed to a record US$15.1 billion in 2025, marking a 10% year-on-year increase. The milestone was achieved despite steep declines in shipments to the United States following the imposition of new tariffs.
Africa accounted for more than half of South Africa’s agricultural exports in the fourth quarter. The shift highlights a growing reliance on regional and emerging markets over traditional Western partners.
The figure represents a 10% year-on-year increase and marks the seventh consecutive annual rise in agricultural exports, underscoring the sector’s growing resilience amid shifting global trade dynamics.
The strong overall performance came despite mounting trade pressures from the United States, where new tariffs on selected agricultural goods significantly dented South African shipments.
Chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo, noted that exports to the US declined by 11% in the third quarter of 2025 and plunged by 39% in the final quarter.
“The tariffs imposed on some products weighed heavily on shipments to the US in the latter part of the year”, Sihlobo said, highlighting the growing uncertainty surrounding South Africa’s access to the American market.
While exports to the US weakened, South Africa increasingly leaned on other regions to sustain growth. The rest of Africa emerged as the country’s largest agricultural export destination, accounting for 53% of shipments in the fourth quarter. Asia and the Middle East accounted for 17% combined, while the European Union accounted for 16%.
By contrast, the Americas, including the United States, accounted for just 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports during the period, underscoring a notable shift in trade patterns.
The data reflect a broader realignment of South Africa’s agricultural trade towards regional and emerging markets, reducing reliance on traditional Western partners.
Analysts predict that the trend could deepen, if tariff barriers persist, further positioning Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as key growth engines for South African farm exports in the years ahead.
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