Browse Data and Analysis

South Africa is the third largest exporter of canned fruits (apricots, pears, and peaches) globally, accounting for 16 percent of the market.

South Africa is currently harvesting its second largest corn crop in history and a fourth consecutive bumper crop. This creates a bearish outlook on local corn prices and will limit an expansion in the area to be planted with corn in marketing year (MY) 2023/24.

On May 21, 2023, the South African Minister of Health issued a Government Notice (R.3337) inviting public comments on a draft regulation relating to the labelling and advertising of food products under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No.54 of 1972).

The South African retail food market is highly concentrated among the five largest companies, including Shoprite Holdings Ltd, Pick n Pay Retailers Pty Ltd, Spar Group Ltd, Massmart (Walmart-owned), and Woolworths Holdings Ltd.

Post forecasts that the South African sugar cane crop will increase by 1 percent to 19.4 million Metric Tons (MT) in the 2020/21 Marketing Year (MY), based on normal weather and growing conditions...

South Africa has to import rice to meet local demand as rice production is insignificant in the country. As a result, any trade restrictions introduced by exporter countries, due to COVID-19...

South Africa with its well-developed business market, serves at a gate way to Sub-Saharan African markets.

In the 2020/21 MY, Post forecasts that South Africa's oilseed meal imports will drop by 8 percent to 550,000 tons and oilseed oil imports will decline by 5 percent to less than 400,000 tons...

On March 23, 2020, the President of South Africa announced that starting from March 26 2020, South Africa would enter into a 21-day lockdown until April 16, 2020.

Currently there are no USDA-endorsed trade shows planned in South Africa in 2020.