SA must pursue diversification opportunities to protect agri exports: South Africa faces renewed pressure to diversify agricultural exports. Economist Bhekani Sandile Zondo urges exploring Asian and European markets.

The article emphasizes the need for South Africa to diversify its agricultural export markets in response to a new 30% tariff imposed by the US, which threatens the competitiveness of key local products. Economist Bhekani Sandile Zondo from the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) highlights that the US has been a significant market for South African agriculture, accounting for 4% of its export value. With agricultural exports reaching a record US$ 13.7 billion in 2024, Zondo advocates for exploring high-potential markets in Asia and Europe, particularly for products like wine, macadamias, and raisins. He stresses the importance of addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers and fostering collaboration between government and industry to enhance trade relations and compliance with international standards. [Extracted from the article]