South Africa turns to Asia for fruit exports after US tariffs

Shoppers in Singapore have started to see more South African produce in their neighbourhood than ever before. That is because South Africa is deepening its trade ties with Asia to offset the impact of new US tariffs on its agricultural exports. The region currently accounts for about 16% of South Africa’s farm exports, and that share is set to rise as Pretoria secures new market access in Asian countries.

Earlier this month, South Africa reached a deal giving its apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes access to the Chinese market for the first time. The agreement is expected to generate an estimated R400m (US$21m) in exports over the next five years. China’s imports of these fruits have grown rapidly. Last year alone, it bought more than 21m cartons of peaches and nectarines and 20m cartons of plums – exceeding South Africa’s entire seasonal export volume.

South Africa has also invited Chinese customs officials to inspect its cherry orchards and packhouses during the current harvest period. If the process goes smoothly, the country could gain market access for cherries by the next harvest cycle.

In late October, President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia to deepen trade and investment ties. Agricultural trade was among the areas on the agenda. Separately, in September, South Africa and Japan signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, including the promotion of trade in farming products.

The push towards Asian markets comes as South African exports to the United States have been hit with a 30% tariff since August. Compounding the challenge, the African Growth and Opportunity Act – which previously gave duty-free access to the US market for most sub-Saharan African exports – expired at the end of September. Washington has yet to confirm whether it will renew the programme, though reports suggest a one-year extension is being considered.

While the US takes only about 4% of South Africa’s total agricultural exports, the exposure is higher for specific products such as citrus, nuts, grapes, wine and fruit juice. In 2023, the US accounted for roughly 8% of South Africa’s orange exports, 68% of its apple juice, 27% of macadamia nuts, 16% of peaches, 18% of dried grapes, 11% of mandarins and 8% of wine shipments.

Earlier this year, South Africa also secured approval to export fresh table grapes to the Philippines, following negotiations that took nearly a decade to conclude. Furthermore, it regained access to the Thai market for fresh apples after a 16-year closure caused by changes in Thailand’s import requirements. Over the past decade, South Africa’s apple exports have grown by about 40%, driven largely by demand from Asia.

 

References

‘South Africa’s fresh apple exports to the Kingdom of Thailand reopened’, Department of Agriculture, 04 February 2025

‘New export market for fresh table grapes from SA to Philippines’, Department of Agriculture, 05 March 2025

‘Analysis of the possible exclusion of South Africa from AGOA preferential access: economy-wide approach’, NAMC, April 2025

‘Trade performance of South Africa’s agricultural sector in Quarter 1 of 2025’, NAMC, April 2025

‘Media statement: USA tariff increase’, Department of Agriculture, 08 July 2025

‘South African farmers see strong US export performance in second quarter’, Department of Agriculture, 18 August 2025

‘South Africa and Japan to strengthen agriculture, trade and food security ties’, Department of Agriculture, 18 September 2025

‘SA’s agriculture exports to the US remained strong’, PoliticsWeb, 22 September 2025

‘Minister Steenhuisen signs landmark stone fruit protocol with China’, Department of Agriculture, 15 October 2025

‘President Cyril Ramaphosa to undertake three-nation visit to Southeast Asia’, The Presidency Republic of South Africa, 21 October 2025

‘AGOA has lapsed but US mulls extension’, Daily Maverick, 22 October 2025

‘Press conference remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of the state visit to Indonesia’, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, 22 October 2025

‘South Africa’s visit to Indonesia and its significance in agriculture’, Agbiz, 22 October 2025

‘SA’s visit to Indonesia and its agricultural significance’, News24, 24 October 2025