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This report provides information on the certificates required for the importation of food and agricultural products into Ghana, plus further information on food product registration, labeling, import permits and other relevant information to assist U.S. exporters.

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).

Zambia’s production of its staple crop, corn, is expected to grow by 23 percent to 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2023/24, mainly due to an upsurge in planted area.

Ghana’s Hotel and Restaurant Institutional sector is growing, with tourism being an important driver of economic growth. In 2019, the sector generated U.S. $1.9 billion for the economy. Local and international franchises operate in major cities across the country.

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.

Nigeria continues to strive for self-sufficiency in oil palm production. Currently, production remains stable. Meanwhile, demand for palm oil outweighs supply. Nigeria meets the supply gap in oil palm through imports from Malaysia, China, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Zimbabwe’s corn crop for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 is estimated at 1.6 million metric tons (MMT), representing a drop of 43 percent from the bumper crop of 2.7 MMT produced in MY 2021/22. Many factors contributed to the drop in production including sub-optimal weather conditions, high input costs and macro-economic challenges.

South Africa is set for record citrus exports of 2.7 million tons in marketing year 2021/22 despite ongoing challenges. Favorable weather conditions, new areas under production, and higher demand in premium markets, such as the United States, are driving the growth in exports.

The United States exports bone-in chicken meat to South Africa under a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) arrangement, which was set at 71,290 tons to be imported quarterly for the April 2021 - March 2022 quota year. The US bone-in chicken quota for the year 2021/2022 was filled at 84 percent, a 10 percent drop from the previous quota year.

MY 2022/23 coffee production is expected to decrease 4 percent to 1.15 million bags due to high fertilizer prices and dry conditions at the beginning of the marketing year. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 exports will decline 4 percent to 1.05 million bags due to lower exportable supplies.