The Xchange Platform Agricultural Market Viewpoint with Wandile Sihlobo

South Africa must push agricultural exports within BRICS

Loading player...
South Africa has an export-led agricultural sector, with exports having been a major catalyst in the sector’s growth over the past three decades. But rising geopolitical tensions have introduced new risks, leading to an increased need for the country to diversify its export agricultural markets.

In this podcast, we argue that South Africa should expand market access to some key BRICS countries, such as China, India, Egypt, and Saudia Arabia.

Other strategic export markets for South Africa's agricultural sector include South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Currently, the significant challenges in these markets are high import tariffs and phytosanitary barriers. Listen to the podcast for more.

My writing on agricultural economic matters is available on my blog: https://wandilesihlobo.com/

This podcast is produced by Richard Humphries, Sam Mkokeli, Nelisiwe Tshabalala, and Amanda Murimba
19 Oct 2024 English South Africa Investing · Food

Other recent episodes

It's time for BRICS countries to deepen agricultural trade

In the current world of trade fragmentation, one area the BRICS countries should consider focusing on more in their deliberations this year is deepening intra-BRICS trade. For South Africa's agriculture, this has been a central input in various discussions for some time, reflecting our desire to expand export markets to…
11 Jul 11 min

SA’s ample grain and oilseed harvest bodes well for food price inflation

There are some glimpses of positivity that often arise from the agricultural data, which are worth highlighting. Indeed, these do not suggest that all is well with South Africa's agriculture; we continue to struggle with animal disease challenges in cattle farming and the poultry industry. However, if one is in…
4 Jul 12 min

Zimbabwe will remain a net importer of maize in 2025-26

Maize demand in the Southern African region is expected to remain strong in the 2025-26 marketing year, which commenced in May (this marketing year corresponds with the 2024-25 production season). One of the countries that imported most maize in Southern Africa in the 2024-25 marketing year was Zimbabwe. The country…
27 Jun 10 min

Optimism in South Africa’s agriculture

South African farmers and agribusinesses continue to exhibit resilience and optimism. The Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) -- a sentiment indicator of business conditions in the sector -- although declining from the high levels it reached at the start of this year, remains at encouraging levels. After a notable uptick…
20 Jun 11 min

Will China open up for more agricultural products from South Africa?

We are yet to receive more details on China's intentions to lower import tariffs for various African countries. What is worth emphasising for now is that, from a South African agricultural perspective, this would be a welcome development. China has profound importance in global agriculture. In 2023, China was a…
13 Jun 10 min
All episodes