In April, the United States shook global trade norms by announcing sweeping tariffs. Given the complexity and fluidity of the moment, our April report offered a range of estimates for the growth downgrade, from modest to significant, depending on the ultimate severity of the trade shock. Six months on, where are we? The good news is that the growth downgrade is at the modest end of the range. The reasons are clear. The United States negotiated trade deals with various countries and provided multiple exemptions. Most countries refrained from retaliation, keeping instead the trading system largely open. The private sector also proved agile, front-loading imports and speedily re-routing supply chains. As a result, the increase in tariffs and its effect has been smaller than expected so far. We now project global growth at 3.2 percent this year and 3.1 percent next year, a cumulative downgrade of 0.2 percentage point since our forecast a year earlier. Click here to read full article. 

When a farmer in Ghana can’t import fertilizer to grow maize or a pharmacy in Pakistan runs short of antibiotics, the barrier is rarely the price of the goods themselves. More often, it’s a lack of access to trade finance. Trade finance involves using financial tools, like letters of credit or guarantees, and techniques to help support cross-border trade transactions. But in high-risk markets, banks are reluctant to confirm letters of credit and private lenders are quick to pull back. The development cost of this isn’t just disrupted shipments, it’s crops that never get planted, medicines that never reach patients, and economic setbacks that ripple far beyond a single transaction. These consequences can be far-reaching, as trade is one of the most powerful engines of economic development. It expands markets by connecting local businesses to regional and global value chains, enabling them to grow, thrive, and create jobs. But trade depends on trade finance. Without it, many are locked out of opportunity. Click here to read full article.

One of the commitments the South African presidency of the G20 made in its policy priorities document at the beginning of 2025 was to push for fairer, more transparent sovereign credit ratings. And to address the high cost of capital caused by an elusive perception of high risk in developing economies. South Africa proposed to establish a commission to look into the cost of capital. In particular, to investigate the issues that impair the ability of low- and middle-income countries to access sufficient, affordable and predictable flows of capital to finance their development. For many in Africa, this was more than a bureaucratic statement. It represented the first real chance for countries in the global south to challenge the entrenched power of international credit rating agencies through the G20. Through the influence of their opinions, Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings are at the centre of driving the high cost of borrowing in Africa. But the window of opportunity for advances to be made on this are narrowing. The South African government and the country’s business community have not used the opportunity provided by the G20 presidency to press for reforms that could reduce Africa’s borrowing costs and strengthen its financial sovereignty. Click here to read full article.

Agbiz successfully hosted its second annual Media Day Western Cape, bringing together journalists, industry leaders, and stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions around South African agriculture, this year focused on the fruit industry. The event’s theme, “Reframing the Narrative on South Africa’s Fruit Sector,” focused on repositioning the country’s fruit industry within the public narrative by showcasing its economic value, innovation, sustainability efforts, and social impact. The day aimed to counter misinformation and highlight the sector’s role in food security, environmental resilience, and youth empowerment. Keynotes from Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele (CEO, Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa) and Mecia Petersen (CEO, South African Table Grape Industry) inspired attendees with reflections on leadership, growth, honing in on their personal journeys and how fruit exports contribute to local food security. Click here to read full report by Temba Msiza, Agbiz.

On the 2nd of October 2025, Judge Nyati delivered a judgement in the Gauteng High Court in the matter of Dhlomo v De Klerk and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition regarding the requirement in the Alienation of Land Act, no 68 of 1981 that any sale of land must be in writing and signed by the parties. The Act requires that: a written sale agreement must include all “material terms”, incorporating both –Essential terms, which must set out the identity of the parties to the contract, the identity of the land sold, and the amount of the sale price; and Any other term that is material …and this is determined with reference to its effect on the rights and obligations of the parties. The Judge ruled in the Dhlomo v De Klerk matter, that this requirement discriminated against vulnerable purchasers and was inconsistent with the rights enshrined in the Constitution of access to housing, dignity and equality and was therefore invalid. This judgement holds serious implications for our deeds registration system and for security of title and will likely lead to lots of litigation. Click here to read full report by Annelize Crosby, Agbiz.

In this week’s episode of AgriView with Wandile, we reflect on the urgent issue of poverty in South Africa, against the backdrop of World Food Day (October 16). Despite being a major agricultural exporter, nearly 20% of South Africans live in extreme poverty - a contradiction that calls for deeper reflection on income inequality, job creation, and sustainable food systems. Wandile explores how agriculture can contribute to solving this challenge, not only through food production but by driving inclusive growth and employment across the economy. The discussion also highlights the need to rethink our approach to resilient and nutritious crops like sorghum - once widely grown, now in decline - and how innovation, food technology, and creative marketing could help revive both demand and production. Ultimately, Wandile reminds us that while agriculture plays a crucial role, South Africa’s poverty crisis is a broader socioeconomic issue requiring coordinated policy action. Don’t miss this insightful episode - and remember to like, share, and subscribe for more in-depth agricultural analysis and commentary. Click here to watch.

Some showers in the next few days across much of South Africa would help to ensure that the 2025-26 plantings in the western regions of the country begin on time. In the western regions of the country, which are mainly white maize and sunflower seed areas, plantings begin in mid-November. Thus, we think that if we get nice showers in the coming weeks, these regions will be able to start planting. So far, these regions have received little rain, and soil moisture remains low. Still, we are in a La Niña rainfall season, so we aren’t as worried about moisture levels this summer. We also had late La Niña rains, starting a month and a half behind schedule, yet still ended up with an excellent crop. That is what actually happened in the 2024-25 season, and yet, we ended up with an ample harvest of 19.94 million tonnes (a 28% year-on-year increase). There is an annual uptick in all the crops, mainly supported by favourable summer rains and the decent area plantings. For the eastern regions of the country, however, the picture is more positive. These regions have received favourable rainfall, and soil moisture is supportive of planting activity. Click here to read full report.

It is encouraging to see South Africa’s focus on Asia, as evidenced by the recent official trips to Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. This region is key to our agricultural export expansion and to other sectors of our economy. Investment issues are also key in discussions with government and business leaders in these regions. Another critical area is the Middle East, which is also an export expansion area for South Africa’s agriculture. The engagement in all these exciting regions is not a shift away from our core export markets in greater Africa, the UK, the US, the EU, and other parts of the world. We remain focused on these core trade partners, and the Asia and Middle Eastern engagements are an expansion of our efforts. We have so much produce coming from our fields over the next couple of years; we must have a market for it to ensure South African farmers remain financially sustainable and continue to create jobs in the rural communities of our country. Click here to read full report.

It is a busy time in South Africa’s agriculture. In the northern regions, the farmers are tilling the land for the 2025-26 season. In horticulture, some fruit harvests will begin soon. In winter crops, South Africa’s 2025-26 winter wheat early harvest seems to have started in some regions. I am looking at the producer deliveries data for the 2025-26 marketing year, and we are seeing that farmers have begun delivering the new season crop to commercial silos. This crop was planted from the start of May. In the first three weeks of this new marketing year, which started this October 2025, farmers have delivered about 45,420 tonnes of wheat to commercial silos. These are still early days, and the harvest will gain momentum in the coming months. We have a generally better season, although not all regions are joyous about it. South Africa’s 2025-26 winter wheat harvest is forecast at 2.03 million tonnes, up 5% from last year. The annual improvement is boosted by the expected better harvest in the Northern Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Click here to read full article.

It is increasingly clear that we will get a reprieve on fuel prices in November 2025. The diesel price (0.05% wholesale inland) could decline by 33 cents per litre, while the petrol price (95 ULP inland) could fall by 57 cents per litre. The relatively stronger ZAR/USD, combined with a reasonably stable oil price for much of the month, are the major driver of the decline in fuel prices. This is a welcome development, and bodes well for the South African agricultural sector. We are in a period of high fuel consumption in South Africa’s agriculture. The planting season for summer grains and oilseed is underway. Fuel also accounts for a notable share of grain farmers’ input costs, about 13%. We will also soon be in a busy period for winter grains and oilseeds, with harvest starting in the coming months. Beyond the farmers, agribusinesses will also benefit from lower costs, particularly in logistics. It is worth noting that roughly 81% of maize, 76% of wheat and 69% of soybeans in South Africa are transported by road. On average, 75% of national grains and oilseeds are transported by road, as is a substantial share of other agricultural products. Click here to read full article.

The American farmers have been on the losing end of the current trade war. In China, the U.S. farmers’ market share for soybeans, pork, and other agricultural products is declining as the country shifts its focus and relies more on different countries. The South and Latin Americans have been the beneficiaries as China now buys more of their agricultural products. Having observed the U.S. approach to protecting its domestic market, few of us thought the country’s leadership would encourage the import of competing products to challenge its domestic producers. But that is what is happening now with the U.S. leadership encouraging beef imports from Argentina. Of course, the U.S. leadership has its “special” relationship with Argentina, so we can’t expect other countries to receive the same consideration. Anyways, this issue with beef imports is starting to cause frustration. Anyways, this issue with beef imports is starting to cause frustration. Reading the New York Times this morning, the following passages caught my attention: “American ranchers, a longstanding bloc of support for President Trump, are voicing frustration over his plan to increase imports of beef from Argentina. Beef prices are at record highs, and the president is seeking ways to lower the cost of burgers and steaks for the average shopper.” Click here to read full article.

The South African leadership is in Vietnam today, 23 October 2025, for a State Visit. In a similar vein to our previous comment on the visit to Indonesia, the current engagements in Vietnam are key to deepening trade, amongst other issues. South Africa is on a path of export diversification, and positioning the country in the minds of political leadership in various countries is crucial. What will need to follow these visits are technical engagements, particularly to widen exports of various sectors of our economy. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, along with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, should lead such engagements. Indeed, South Africa’s Department of Agriculture should also take a keen interest in these engagements. Vietnam is a market we keep on our radar in agriculture. The country spends over US$30 billion on agricultural imports annually. But if one looks at Vietnam’s agricultural products suppliers, South Africa doesn’t feature prominently. South Africa ranked 34th among agricultural suppliers to Vietnam. Consider 2024, Vietnam imported US$34 billion worth of agricultural products.  Click here to read full article.

What began as a promising path to boosting inclusive growth in South Africa's agriculture has become mired in unending discussions, and the implementation effort has been hazy at best. In May 2022, the then Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Dididza, launched South Africa's Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), co-created by government, organized agriculture, labour, and other stakeholders. The document outlined the key constraints on South Africa's agriculture and agro-processing and presented solutions. The distinct aspect was its deep focus on various commodity value chains and the mapping of commodity corridors across the country. What followed was the creation of structures that monitor implementation and processes across the various commodities. The AAMP is critical because, while South Africa's agriculture gross value added has more than doubled since the dawn of democracy, there is still significant potential for growth, but various inefficiencies remain, increasing transaction costs for farming businesses and constraining expansion.  Click here to read full report.

South Africa's agricultural exports to the U.S. surged by 26 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, reaching $161 million, despite the looming threat of tariffs imposed by the U.S. The increase was driven by a strong harvest and elevated global commodity prices. For more CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa spoke to Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, at The Financial Times Africa Summit in London. Click here to watch full interview.

Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang reaffirmed the WTO's commitment to helping landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) address transit challenges for participation in global trade at the Ministerial Meeting of LLDCs held on the margins of the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva on 22 October. He emphasized that the next frontier is digitalization paired with strong corridor governance, stressing that effective transit corridors require digitally interconnected and institutionally coordinated systems. The meeting, chaired by Ambassador Davasuren Gerelmaa of Mongolia, brought together ministers and senior officials from the 32 LLDCs, along with UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima of the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), and the heads of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) as well as other development partners. Click here to read full report.

South Africa can advocate for the effective implementation of climate smart agriculture that would align with the continent's urgent need to address food security and contribute to the global agenda on sustainable development. Agriculture and food security remain central to the global sustainability agenda and Africa’s development agenda. Agriculture is not only essential in feeding the growing world population but plays a vital role in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely zero hunger, responsible production and consumption, and climate action. Agriculture is the backbone of many African economies, employing approximately 65-70% of the continent’s workforce. However, the sector is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, land degradation, and market volatility, threatening food security such that food insecurity has been on a rising trajectory since 2015.2The G20 has progressively integrated these socioeconomic and ecological impacts into its agenda in recognition of the global significance of agriculture and food security. Click here to read full article.

Deforestation has slowed in all of the world’s regions in the last decade, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 (FRA 2025) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Released every five years, the 2025 edition of the report was published today during the Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) Plenary in Bali, Indonesia. The latest data show that forests cover 4.14 billion hectares – about one-third of the planet’s land area. In addition to slowing deforestation rates, FRA 2025 highlights further positive news for the world’s forests, which includes more than half of forests now covered by long-term management plans, and one fifth of forests now being within legally established protected areas. However, the report notes that forest ecosystems worldwide continue to face challenges, with the current rate of deforestation at 10.9 million hectares per year still too high. Forests are important for food security, local livelihoods and the provision of renewable biomaterials and energy. Click here to read full article.

The outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa is showing resilience, despite a challenging external environment with uneven prospects in commodity prices, still tight borrowing conditions, and a deterioration of the global trade and aid landscape. Economic growth is projected to remain steady at 4.1 percent in 2025 with a modest pickup in 2026, supported by macroeconomic stabilization and reform efforts in key economies. But this resilience cannot be taken for granted. Overlapping monetary, financial, external, and fiscal vulnerabilities are present in much of the region. Uncertainty persists and risks remain tilted to the downside. Domestic revenue mobilization and strengthened debt management, can help bolster macroeconomic stability while funding essential development needs. Click here to read full report.

For most of the past 25 years, Chinese construction companies operating in Africa could count on generous financial backing from Chinese banks. Between 2000 and 2019, Chinese funders committed almost US$50 billion to African transport projects. Most came from Chinese development finance institutions. Six years ago, this started to change as Chinese lenders began to pull back. Since 2019, they have committed only US$6 billion for the development of Africa’s infrastructure. Yet Chinese companies continue to thrive on the continent. Many remain market leaders in the construction sector in a number of countries. These include Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya. To make sense of how Chinese companies continue to expand at a time of dwindling state funding, we looked at what makes them so successful in African markets. In a recent paper we set out the main drivers. We drew on our expertise on the activities of Chinese companies in Africa and undertook extensive fieldwork in China, Kenya and Ghana. First, Chinese companies draw on their ties to the Chinese state to enter – or establish – their presence in a specific market. Click here to read full article.

Health researchers from across the world have outlined new research priorities on the role of nuts and dried fruit in human health, identifying links between their consumption and areas such as metabolic and cardiovascular health, fertility, immunity, bone health, and brain function. The discussion also addressed emerging findings related to the gut microbiome and biomarkers of nut consumption. The conclusions were presented at the NUTS 2025 conference, held on October 9–10, 2025, and hosted by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC). The event was organised by Rovira i Virgili University, the Pere Virgili Institute of Health Research, and CIBERobn, and chaired by Professor Jordi Salas-Salvadó of the World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination. Researchers shared updates from recent studies examining how nuts and dried fruit may influence major public health issues and the mechanisms involved. An update on the INC-funded NUTPOOL study was also presented. This project aggregates data from about one million individuals from multiple international cohorts to expand understanding of the health impacts of nut consumption. Click here to read full article.

At the start of the 2025 citrus export season, logistics remained a major concern for growers, with port efficiency and container availability among the key challenges. As the season concludes, the industry reports improved movement of fruit through ports, particularly in Durban, following collaborative efforts between Transnet, shipping lines, and private logistics partners. According to the Citrus Growers' Association (CGA), the 2025 season saw exports handled with minimal delays at major ports. This improvement follows coordinated actions across the logistics chain, involving growers, cold storage operators, shipping lines, and transport providers. Transnet Port Terminals increased throughput by investing in new equipment and revising its operational model. Incentives linked to productivity also contributed to greater efficiency. The number of 40-foot-equivalent containers shipped rose to 115,000, compared to 94,000 last year. Specialized reefer vessels moved 220,000 pallets, up from 200,000 in 2024. Click here to read full article.

Banana markets worldwide are showing mixed trends as contract negotiations, import shifts, and seasonal transitions shape supply and pricing. Dutch importers are finalizing next year's contracts amid pressure from Ecuadorian growers to raise prices, while European markets face weaker demand after a temporary price rise. Italy's market remains stable with strong wholesale prices, though logistics continue to challenge traders, and Sicily has launched its first local Chiquita banana project. In Spain, prices are recovering after a weak summer, but for the first time since 1993, imported bananas have surpassed Canary Islands fruit in market share. German prices remain stable with balanced supply and demand, offering little reason for adjustment. In France, high banana arrivals from Colombia and Africa in September outpaced demand, leading to downward price pressure. In North America, tariffs and price hikes have pushed many consumers toward conventional bananas as organic sales decline. South African prices are beginning to ease with the arrival of summer fruit, though quality remains high despite earlier weather-related challenges. Click here to read full article.

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has launched an new AI-empowered Global Intelligence Engine, a members-only data and insights platform that it says is transforming the way the fresh produce and floral industry accesses, understands, and acts on information. Officially unveiled at the Global Produce & Floral Show, the Global Intelligence Engine was demoed live at the IFPA booth. The association said the Engine drew “significant engagement” from members across the supply chain, who experienced firsthand the platform’s ability to ”deliver instant answers, custom analytics, and visualisations” powered by proprietary IFPA data and expert analysis. “Imagine having the ability to generate highly customised, granular reports on the topics that matter most to you – whether it’s broad market trends, regulatory developments, or deep, category-based consumer insights,” said Patrick Vizzone, chair of the 2026 IFPA board of directors, during his remarks at the show. “Our IFPA team has developed a transformative platform that unites IFPA’s vast and proprietary data with the power of Large Language Models and the rapidly advancing potential of AI.” Click here to read full article.

The South African citrus industry has had a record year with 203mn cartons of fruit exported, more than 30mn cartons higher than the original estimate. At the start of the season the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) predicted a crop of 171mn cartons. “All partners have cooperated to make this a success, and most importantly the logistics flow and the ports also held up well overall,” said Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive of the CGA. “This comes at a time during which policy discussions, government restructuring, trade issues, and future vision have been top of mind. “The citrus industry’s Vision 260 was conceptualised with the goal of exporting 260mn 15kg cartons by 2032, with an estimated 100,000 jobs created, he noted. ”Agriculture exports have been reported higher than expected, especially given the general headwinds and geopolitical tension.” Industry sources said that last year’s drop in export volumes was indeed just a blip. This fall seemed to indicate that the growth pattern of the past few years had slowed down. This year’s finale export figure, they said, shows that the industry is indeed ahead of target to reach the 2032 mark. 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 11 423 TEUs was handled daily, a notable decrease from 12 279 TEUs the previous week. Port operations were characterised by inclement weather, vacant berths, as well as equipment breakdowns and shortages. Equipment challenges and adverse weather conditions ensured operational disruptions in Cape Town, while similar delays prevented optimal performance in Durban. More than 40 operational hours were conceded at our Eastern Cape Ports due to strong winds, while minimal delays were reported at the Port of Richards Bay. The latest reports from TFR suggest that locomotive challenges are still creating bottlenecks on the line between City Deep and Mafikeng. However, traffic on the line is easing and moving slightly quicker. The latest Southern Africa Terminal and Service Update from Maersk for Week 42 indicates that our major South African ports are generally fluid, with minimal waiting times recorded. Conversely, the picture looks slightly dimmer for our neighbouring ports. Global ocean freight continues to be typified by both structural realignments and growing uncertainty across regulatory and market dimensions. Click here to read full article.

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. 

Our industry is respected worldwide, yet there is still untapped potential right here at home. South Africa Wine has begun work on a dedicated domestic market strategy to help us better connect with local wine drinkers and grow meaningful engagement across the country. A team of experienced service providers has been appointed to lead this work, supported by a task team across the industry. Together, they will create a clear purpose, positioning, and communication approach that speaks to South African consumers in a way that feels relevant and accessible. This strategy will unfold in phases, starting with research and insight gathering, moving into creative development, and concluding with implementation planning. Read more here. 

Decreased producer prices and yellow maize prices during week 41. During week 41 of 2025, the pork producer price averaged R35,98/kg, 0,3% lower than the previous week. The yellow maize price averaged R3 407/t, 1,3% lower than the previous week. Producer prices in relation to yellow maize prices averaged 10,6, 1,1% higher than the previous week. Click here to read full report.

Favourable Weather brings a Positive Outlook for SA’s 2025/2026 Stone Fruit Export Season. The South African stone fruit industry is preparing for the 2025/2026 export season with optimism, thanks to favourable weather conditions during winter and blossoming, which led to good fruit set and fruit quality across most production regions. Overall export volumes are forecasted to rise by 6% compared to the previous season, indicating a healthy and balanced supply across all stone fruit categories. Click here to read full statement.

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 Media Day

5 December 2025 | Pretoria, GP

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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.