Registration for the Agbiz Congress 2026 is now open. The event will take place from 3–5 June 2026 at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre in Gqeberha, with early bird rates available until 28 February 2026. The 2026 theme, “Embracing Collaboration,” reflects the sector’s growing need for unified, solutions-driven partnerships across the agricultural value chain. As South Africa faces continued global uncertainty, from shifting geopolitical dynamics and trade disruptions to climate pressures and biosecurity threats, collaboration remains essential for building a resilient, competitive agribusiness environment. Agbiz’s strategic intent remains centred on enabling South African agribusinesses to operate competitively and sustainably, both domestically and globally. In recent years, rapidly changing global conditions have underscored the importance of adaptability, system-wide cooperation, and shared problem-solving. The 2026 Congress will bring together senior leaders from agribusiness, government, finance, academia, development institutions, and organised agriculture to explore how collective action can drive sector growth, innovation, and long-term stability. Read more here. Visit the congress website here. 

President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that retroactively lowers tariffs on beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas, among other agricultural imports, backdated to Thursday. The order Trump signed excludes the goods from “reciprocal” tariff rates, which start at 10% and go as high as 50%. However, the order doesn’t exempt the goods entirely from tariffs. For instance, tomatoes from Mexico, a major supplier to the United States, will continue to be tariffed at 17%. That rate took effect in July after a nearly three-decade-old trade agreement expired. Tomato prices increased almost immediately after those tariffs were put in place. Many of the commodities that will no longer face “reciprocal” tariffs have seen some of the biggest price increases since Trump took office, in part because of tariffs he imposed and a lack of sufficient domestic supply. For instance, Brazil, the top supplier of coffee to the US, has faced tariffs of 50% since August. Consumers paid nearly 20% more for coffee in September compared to the prior year, according to Consumer Price Index data. Click here to read full article.

What if Africa's greatest wealth was not its minerals, its oil, or its land, but rather its youth? With 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, the continent is brimming with energy, creativity, and potential. Yet, in a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), millions of young Africans remain disconnected, not by choice, but due to a lack of opportunity. This is not just a missed opportunity. It's a call to action. Africa is at a pivotal moment in its journey of digital transformation. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to generate 230 million digital jobs, driven by the rapid expansion of digital services. So the potential is huge, but the question is: How do we unlock it? In 2024, internet penetration in Africa reached 40 percent, up from 3.2 percent in 2005. Today, more than 600 million people on the continent use mobile broadband internet. Despite progress, more than 900 million people remain offline, and 76 percent face a "usage gap". They live in areas covered by the network but lack the means or skills to access digital services. In rural areas, access is only 28 percent. Click here to read full article.

Major policy shifts this year have been adding to unknowns about the future and policy decisions, according to our World Uncertainty Index, which has doubled since January. Uncertainty has surged to an exceptionally high level globally, and it’s likely here to stay, as the IMF noted during the recent Annual Meetings. To better understand what causes this and what it reveals, we developed a new subcomponent of that measure, the World Policy Uncertainty Index, which, like its counterpart, is drawn from textual sources. Our new gauge tracks reports by the Economist Intelligence Unit by tallying country-level references to “uncertain,” “uncertainty,” and “uncertainties” in passages related to “policy,” “policymaking,” as well as words related to politics, such as “election,” “government,” and “vote.” It covers 71 advanced countries, emerging markets, and developing economies. The Chart of the Week shows that a recent record monthly level for policy uncertainty was accompanied by relatively upbeat readings for our World Sentiment Index—echoing recent IMF forecasts that the global economy remains resilient and is slowing only modestly. Click here to read full article.

Inequality is one of the most urgent concerns in the world today, generating many other problems in economies, societies, polities and the environment. Inequality causes people’s lives to be more fragile, leading to perceptions of unfairness that spark frustration and resentment. That, in turn, undermines social and political cohesion, eroding citizens’ trust in authorities and institutions. The consequences are political instability, decreased confidence in democracy, enhanced conflicts and diminished appetite for international cooperation. Inequality also affects our ability to deal with planetary challenges. Inequality is not a given; combating it is necessary and possible. Inequality results from policy choices that reflect ethical attitudes and morals, as well as economic trade-offs. It is not just a matter of concern for individual countries, but a global concern that should be on the international agenda – and therefore the G20’s. Inequality has important cross-border effects, and the global rules on trade, finance, investment and knowledge are key determinants of inequalities within and between countries. Click here to read full report. 

South Africa may be one of the top 40 global agricultural exporters, but when it comes to wheat, we’re still a net importer, bringing in roughly half of the wheat we consume each year. In this week’s episode of “AgriView with Wandile”, we unpack why that is, how the country’s wheat production has shifted over time, and what the latest crop estimates reveal about the 2025/26 season. From weather patterns in the Western Cape to shifts in planting decisions in the Free State, Wandile explores the factors shaping local production and what that means for prices, imports, and consumers. The conversation also takes a global perspective: with record harvests in countries like Russia, the EU, and Australia, international wheat prices are under pressure, a development that could benefit South African consumers while still supporting local producers through tariff mechanisms. Wandile closes with insights on food security, wheat breeding, and why domestic production capacity remains critical. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in the balance between imports, prices, and production in South Africa’s agricultural landscape. Click here to watch.

The U.S. decision to modify its reciprocal tariffs and exempt some food products is a positive step towards easing agricultural trade friction, which is costly to both exporting countries and U.S. consumers. The exempted products include coffee and tea, fruit juices, cocoa, and spices, as well as avocados, bananas, coconuts, guavas, limes, oranges, mangoes, plantains, pineapples, various peppers and tomatoes, beef, and additional fertilisers. The U.S. government took this positive policy step in an effort to cushion U.S. consumers against higher prices resulting from the tariffs. In a way, this is a recognition that tariffs are a tax on consumers in importing countries, while also weighing on exporters. In our understanding, these products will no longer be covered under the Liberation Day Tariff levels, making access to the U.S. market much easier for various exporters. South Africa is an exporter of various agricultural products to the U.S., including citrus products, table grapes, macadamia nuts, wine, ostrich products, raisins and ice cream, among others. It appears that oranges, macadamia nuts and fruit juices will benefit from the exemption.1 The U.S. accounts for approximately 4% of South Africa’s agricultural exports, valued at U.S.$13.7 billion in 2024. Click here to read full article. Or listen here.

South Africa's agricultural exports have remained strong since the start of the year despite significant trade policy shifts and uncertainty. The cumulative value of agricultural exports for the first three quarters of the year is US$11.7 billion, representing a 10% increase from the corresponding period in 2024. The exports have been strong every quarter. The latest data for Q3 shows that South Africa's agricultural exports totalled US$4.7 billion, up 13% from the same period a year ago. This is due to higher volumes of various product exports and better commodity prices. The products that dominated the exports list in the second quarter of the year were mainly citrus, nuts, apples, pears, maize, wine, sugar, fruit juices, berries, grapes, pineapples, avocados, and soybean, among other products. Although there remains a need for further improvement in port efficiency, we have witnessed a notable improvement compared to recent months. We observed a similar experience in the past two quarters. This has supported export activity and illustrates the gains from the ongoing policy reforms in the South African network industries. Click here to read full article.

We welcome the discussion about the U.S. potentially adjusting the tariffs on foodstuffs. This would be beneficial for U.S. consumers and equally helpful to those in the agriculture, food, and beverage industries that export to the U.S. While the U.S. accounts for only 4% of South Africa’s agricultural, food, and beverage exports, valued at US$13.7 billion, these exports are concentrated in a few key industries, primarily citrus, macadamia nuts, wine, grapes, and ostrich products, among others. Therefore, any downward adjustments to import tariffs on these products, especially if they were to apply to all suppliers, would be incredibly beneficial. South Africa, to an extent, was able to export a decent volume of agricultural, food, and beverage products to the U.S. during the 90-day pause. Thus, if one considers our agricultural exports to the U.S. in the second quarter, they jumped 26% year-on-year to US$161 million. It was an ability to utilise the tariff pause period. However, the agricultural products are seasonal, and some, such as table grapes, will only enter the export season in a few weeks, and will be unable to benefit from the tariff pause of the past few months. Click here to read full article.

Higher tariffs are a tax on consumers in importing countries. American consumers are experiencing this reality through relatively higher food prices in the country since the Liberation Day tariffs were introduced earlier this year. Confronted by this reality, the US government has taken steps to modify its reciprocal tariffs and exempt certain food products. This is likely to ease pressure on consumers over time and benefit the exporting countries. South Africa is one of the countries that will benefit from the easing of the US government’s policy step. The exempted products include coffee and tea, fruit juices, cocoa and spices, as well as avocados, bananas, coconuts, guavas, limes, oranges, mangoes, plantains, pineapples, various peppers and tomatoes, beef and additional fertilisers. The US government’s decision to exempt some food products from these higher Liberation Day tariffs is a recognition of the policy mistake and the unintended consequences of higher prices on households. Click here to read full article. 

Wandile Sihlobo – Chief Economist, Agbiz SAfm Market Update - Podcasts and live stream (https://www.moneyweb.co.za/category/m...)

The African government must do everything possible to assist farmers during the 2025-26 production season. In the past, when confronted with disasters and food shortages, we had relied on organisations such as the World Food Programme for assistance. This time around, the World Food Programme is no longer equipped to assist if we encounter challenges. Hence, considering the future, we must do everything possible to help farmers get out into the fields and till the land, so they can have an ample or decent harvest in the upcoming season and ensure household food security in the near term. There are also long-term policy considerations for reforming our agriculture, which we must seriously reflect on. I discuss more in the podcast. Click here to listen.

The Karoo region of South Africa experiences intense weather conditions, with often extremely hot summers and bitterly cold winters. It is these extreme weather conditions that nurture the distinct vegetation of the region, which is a source of feed for the sheep industry there. The Karoo lamb has a unique and supreme taste due to the distinct vegetation. But there are times when extreme heat and dryness can cause worries about the vegetation, and there were certainly areas where farmers were starting to rely on feed because of dryness. But I was delighted to hear from various farmers in recent days that some areas are starting to receive rains, which if it hopefully continues, will help boost the grazing veld. Another aspect of the Karoo region which many South Africans have yet to explore is agritourism. Click here to listen. 

Various regions of South Africa have started receiving the 2025-26 summer rains. The rains will help ensure that the agricultural season begins on time and that we have excellent production conditions. The farmers are relatively optimistic, having suggested that they intend to plant 4.5 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds, a 1% increase from the 2024-25 season. Importantly, the favourable rains also help improve the grazing veld for livestock, and are beneficial to the horticulture industry. Listen to the podcast for more. Click here to listen.

Agbiz Grain Quarterly is an online magazine dedicated to the South African grain handling and storage industry. In addition to the usual offering of thought-provoking, industry-specific articles, the November 2025 issue highlights the grain silo history of South Africa and explores the importance of prioritising preventative silo maintenance to ensure safety and preserve grain quality during long-term storage. This issue also features coverage of Sacota’s AGM and the challenges faced by the grain and oilseeds sector, TRIM’s strategic outlook for the industry, and insights on hazardous substance transport. Readers can further explore articles on the influence of commodity type and temperature on insect infestations in silos, grain storage options, updates in the agricultural regulatory environment, and managing flammable storage compliance in South Africa and much more. To download the current PDF version of Agbiz Grain Quarterly, click here. To download the digimag, click here.

Agbiz is proud to announce that our Digital Communications Officer, Temba Msiza, has been awarded the Youth Communicator Award at the 2025 National Farmer of the Year Awards, hosted by Agricultural Writers SA (AWSA) in Worcester this past weekend. This award recognises young professionals who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and impact in agricultural communication, ensuring that the stories, priorities, and progress of South Africa’s agricultural sector are clearly and accurately conveyed to the public. Temba was recognised for his contribution to strengthening the visibility of Agbiz’s work, enhancing media engagement, and elevating key conversations on agricultural policy, agribusiness performance, and industry developments across digital platforms. Click here to read full.

Storms, drought, floods and heatwaves are a disaster for small scale farmers in Africa, who can’t all afford insurance. Yet new, technologically advanced and cheaper types of agricultural insurance exist and could be rolled out across Africa. These include picture-based insurance that relies on smartphone photos to assess crop damage, and insurance coupons that allow farmers to purchase insurance for times when they know the weather might be bad. In a policy note to the Group of 20 most powerful economies (the G20), economists Berber Kramer and Ruth Vargas Hill set out what South Africa’s G20 presidency should do. How are African farmers at risk from climate change? Climate change has made farming in Africa riskier than ever. Livelihoods relying on rain-fed agriculture are deeply tied to weather. Droughts, floods, cyclones, pests and diseases have become more frequent, and rising temperatures mean that crops once well-suited to local climates may no longer thrive. Globally, nearly one in five people are at risk of facing a severe weather event they will struggle to recover from. But in Africa, two in every five people face that risk. Click here to read full article.

Global food security is more comprehensive, seeking to address the challenges of access to food, nutrition, sustainability and affordability. The broad ambition of global food security is to ensure that countries, especially the G20 members, work collaboratively on initiatives that reduce global poverty levels. This reduction of poverty must be material at both national and at household level. Achieving this goal will demand that each country’s domestic agricultural policy enables increases in food production, prioritises environmentally friendly production approaches, and eases trade friction. This will enable countries that cannot produce enough food to import it, and most importantly, do so affordably. Also, countries should ease the global logistics friction, removing tariffs and ensuring that a flow of agricultural products is smooth. This also includes the removal of export bans in certain cases. For example, in 2023, India banned the exports of rice and that caused a surge in global food prices. Click here to read full article.

South African nut farmers are celebrating a partial reprieve after the United States announced a rollback of additional tariffs on a wide range of imported food products, including several key crops that had been caught in a broader trade dispute earlier in the year, as reported by BBC News on 14 November 2025. The decision exempts numerous nuts, grains, roots, seeds, and spices from the punitive 30 per cent reciprocal duties imposed in August, providing much-needed breathing space for producers of macadamia nuts and pecans, which form a vital part of the country’s high-value agricultural exports. The move comes amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Pretoria, following months of uncertainty that saw exporters rushing shipments to beat deadlines and exploring alternative markets in Asia and the Middle East. Macadamia nuts, in particular, have been a standout success story for South African agriculture, with the country ranking as one of the world’s top producers. Farms in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, where much of the crop is grown, stand to benefit significantly from restored competitiveness in the American market, which absorbs a substantial portion of premium kernels used in snacks, confectionery, and health foods. Click here to read full report.

Godongwana used his address to emphasise economic stability, structural reforms, infrastructure recovery, and improved logistics, areas which agricultural experts say strengthen long-term sector sustainability. While he admitted that South Africa must “accelerate economic growth to create jobs and reduce poverty at the scale required,” the minister also highlighted that progress on stabilising debt, exiting the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list, and implementing reforms in energy, transport and water would create a platform for improved private-sector confidence in the country. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, senior agricultural economist at FNB, Paul Makube, said the MTBPS, although not agriculture-focused, contains “critical fiscal signals that will shape investment decisions in the sector”. He said despite the absence of a direct reference to agriculture, there are broader implications for long-term stability and sustainability in the sector. “The expected growth in public-sector infrastructure spending of 6,5% annually, which would unlock opportunities in most importantly logistics, construction, and related sectors, will underpin long-term stability and sustainability for the agriculture sector.” Click here to read full article.

SA’s agricultural sector has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order allowing a range of food products to be exempt from his punitive tariff regime. The Trump administration said the goods, including oranges, bananas, mangoes, coconuts, avocados and tomatoes, could not be produced in sufficient quantities domestically. The global decision saw Trump exempting most SA citrus and tropical fruits from the recent 30% import tariffs, with the executive order issued on Friday providing much-needed relief to SA’s agriculture industry. Other products like table grapes and wine remain subject to tariffs, while some poultry and pork imports are open but subject to biosecurity rules. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) said the new tariff exemption would make SA oranges competitive in the US market. It said the 30% tariff came into effect only in August, towards the end of SA’s 2025 season, and therefore had a “limited impact on citrus exports to the US, especially because growers were able to increase and fast-track shipments to the US before the tariff deadline”. CGA CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele said: “SA has been a partner to the US in citrus supply for many years. Click here to read full article.

Due to lapse in government funding from October 1 through November 12, some U.S. data sources that are typically used were not available for the November 2025 WASDE. Changes to the U.S. balance sheets continue to reflect all U.S. government data available at the time of publication, but this month, in some cases, that information was limited. The outlook for 2025/26 U.S. wheat this month is for larger supplies and higher ending stocks, with no change to use. Supplies are raised on greater production, up 58 million bushels to 1,985 million, on a record all wheat yield based on the September 30 Small Grains Summary. The season-average farm price is lowered $0.10 per bushel to $5.00 as larger global supplies reduce price expectations for the remainder of the marketing year. The global wheat outlook for 2025/26 is for larger supplies, consumption, trade, and ending stocks. Supplies are projected to increase 11.7 million tons to 1,090.3 million on higher production for most of the major wheat exporters including Kazakhstan, Argentina, the EU, the United States, Australia, Russia, and Canada. Global consumption is increased 4.3 million tons to 818.9 million, primarily on higher feed and residual use for Russia, Kazakhstan, and the EU. Click here to read full report.

Climate-induced disasters are increasingly putting strain on the finances of middle- to low-income countries. Growing vulnerability to climate change, coupled with high rates of poverty and low levels of development, exacerbates this financial strain, further deepening the debt burden of many developing countries worldwide. While it is predicted that BRICS could make up 50% of the global economy by 2040, South Africa and Brazil are still highly reliant on external climate financing to meet their development goals and achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).1 With both South Africa and Brazil aiming to become carbon neutral by 2050, the need to secure sustainable climate finance is becoming increasingly urgent. South Africa’s high reliance on coal has resulted in major climate financing deals, such as the $8.5 billion Just Transition Package, announced at COP26 in 2021.2 Subsequent to the initial Just Energy Transition Partnership deal, the value of pledges has risen to $12.8 billion.3 Brazil has also received significant climate finance support, being the top recipient of multilateral climate finance in Latin America between 2003 and 2023. With rapidly growing populations and national development concerns, South Africa and Brazil need to continue securing climate finance while developing efficient national policy instruments to successfully support national green growth and development. Click here to read full report.

The United Nations climate conference opened Monday in the Brazilian Amazon with pleas for the world to keep up the fight against global warming, even as the United States turns its back. Feeble progress toward weaning off fossil fuels and cutting planet-warming emissions have opened fault lines between countries in Belem, the hot and sticky city on the edge of the rainforest hosting the two-week COP30 summit. "It's time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thundered in his opening address, which followed a traditional performance from Indigenous people in feathered headpieces. He pointedly slammed those who "spread fear, attack institutions, science, and universities." Weighing on the talks is the absence of the United States, the world's top oil producer and second-largest polluter. But American state and local leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, are set to take the stage Tuesday to show the country isn't entirely missing in action, highlighting their own climate policies and solidarity with global efforts. Click here to read full report.

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is developing a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for Agriculture. According to the department, this strategic initiative will enhance institutional coordination, drive innovation and support the transformation of South Africa’s agrifood system into one that is inclusive, resilient and aligned with national and regional development priorities. Agriculture remains South Africa’s most resilient sector but still faces persistent structural challenges that contribute to low productivity and slow gross domestic product (GDP) growth. These include high input costs, market competition, unreliable energy supply, climate change impacts such as droughts and shifting weather patterns, widespread rural poverty, food insecurity, underutilisation of arable land and household food insecurity. “The roadmap will promote the development of new high-value crops, livestock and agro-processed products; create expanded opportunities for women and youth in rural areas.” Click here to read full article.

This update provides a consolidated overview of the South African logistics network and the current state of international trade. At our container terminals, an average of 11 150 TEUs was handled daily, a decrease from 11 754 TEUs the previous week. Port operations were mainly characterised by adverse weather, vacant berths, as well as equipment challenges and shortages. To contextualise this, over 40 operational hours were conceded in Cape Town this week due to adverse weather, as equipment challenges and inclement weather prevented optimal performance in Durban. Vacant berths, equipment challenges, and adverse weather ensured operational delays at our Eastern Cape Ports, while poor weather conditions proved to be the primary operational constraint at the Port of Richards Bay. The latest reports from TFR suggest that the line between City Deep and Mafikeng reopened after the derailment and floods but remained congested for the most significant part of the week due to backlogs. Congestion is expected to ease around 9 November. No major incidents were reported on the ConCor or the Central Corridor this week. Click here to read full article.

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Sinovuyo Moabalobelo as its new Head: Strategic Projects. Agbiz CEO, Theo Boshoff, said: “We are excited to welcome Sino to the Agbiz team. Agbiz has always had a strong focus on economics, trade, policy, and legislation, but we are increasingly seeing that public–private partnerships (PPPs) are essential to creating an enabling environment for agribusiness. In recent years, the industry has entered into a PPP with Transnet to create additional plug points in the Port of Cape Town, while also engaging in rail reform and exploring partnerships to improve road infrastructure. Beyond regulatory certainty, our regulators must also be capacitated to perform effectively. Sino’s experience at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator positions her perfectly to strengthen our capacity in this space.” Click here to read full statement. 

Established in celebration of Agbiz members who have reached their centenary milestones, this bursary is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in agribusiness. It provides an opportunity for South African master’s and PhD students in agribusiness management-related fields to further their studies and contribute to the future growth of the sector. If you’re passionate about advancing your academic journey and making an impact in agriculture and agribusiness, this opportunity is for you. Learn more and apply here. 

Feed prices decreased during October 2025. The South African weighted average feed price reached R5,108/t in October 2025, 0,3% lower than in September 2025 and 14,9% lower than in October 2024. Yellow maize prices were 2,7% lower in October 2025 compared to September 2025 and 22,3% lower compared to October 2024. In August 2025, the producer price-to-feed price ratio reached 7,1. Click here to view full report.

In the latest edition of Keeping it Fresh, the Fresh Produce Exporter's Forum (FPEF)'s newsletter, you will get a summary of the most pertinent information as well as reminders of important upcoming events. Please click here to peruse.

The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), shares the latest news in the citrus industry in its weekly update, From the desk of the CEO. Please click here to peruse. 

Agbiz Congress 2026

3 - 5 June 2026 | Boardwalk, Gqeberha

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B20 Bayer Strategic Dialogue

21 November 2025 | Illovo, Johannesburg

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World Conference of Science

1 – 5 December 2025 | CSIR ICC, Pretoria

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Agri-Data Revolution: Shaping Southern Africa’s Fresh Produce Future Summit 2026

17–18 March 2026 | Johannesburg, South Africa 

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• Agbiz is the only organisation that serves the broader and common over-arching business interests of agribusinesses in South Africa.
• Agbiz addresses the legislative and policy environment on the many fronts that it impacts on the agribusiness environment.
• Agbiz facilitates considerable top-level networking opportunities so that South African agribusinesses can play an active and creative role within the local and international organised business environment.
• Agbiz research provides sector-specific information for informed decision-making.
• Agbiz newsletter publishes members' press releases and member product announcements.