Browse Data and Analysis

The cold and wet winter of 2023 provided favorable conditions for deciduous fruit and aided in improved production volumes. Production is expected to grow and improve in quality from MY 2022/23 when fruit was affected by hail damage.

Previously exporters and importers of live animals and genetic materials only required a permit, but a new directive requires prior authorization from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Animal Production Directorate before applying for the permit.

Although extension of anti-dumping duties imposed on frozen bone-in poultry portions from the US would typically mean business as usual as these duties are rebated under the tariff rate quota, a current de-facto restriction on applying general tariff rebates to poultry imported under the TRQ makes the announcement more concerning than usual.

On March 16, 2021, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) announced plans to review the tariff structure of poultry.

South Africa’s well-developed food processing sector has been under pressure since the March 2020 national lockdown due to COVID-19, which imposed many restrictions on the food industry.

Post forecasts that the South African sugar cane crop will increase by 3 percent to 18.8 million Metric Tons (MT) in the 2021/22 MY, based on normal weather conditions, improvements in yields, and marginal increases in area planted.

Post predicts that South Africa’s positive trend in soybean plantings will continue in the 2021/22 MY in line increased local crushing capacity.