China is showing interest in SA’s agricultural products, marking a starting point for deeper trade discussions, experts told Business Day.
Chinese ambassador to SA, Wu Peng, tweeted on Monday he had a good meeting with the CEOs of the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and Fruit SA.
“Very fruitful discussion,” he wrote. “In this turbulent world caused by trade protectionism, China and SA need to strengthen our bilateral trade and economic co-operation. [The] Chinese government welcomes more SA agricultural and industrial products to enter huge Chinese markets.”
“China holds profound importance in global agriculture,” Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) said in response to the tweet.
“In 2023, China was a leading importer, accounting for 11% of global agricultural imports, with imports valued at $218bn. However, China has been on a journey to diversify its agricultural exports beyond these suppliers, which has accelerated following the US initial tariffs in 2018 and is ongoing in 2025.”
He said while South and Latin American countries and Australia have been the primary beneficiaries of China’s diversification strategy so far, “SA must also be part of this conversation”.
SA remains a small player in the Chinese agricultural market, accounting for a mere 0.4% ($979m) of China’s agricultural imports of $218bn in 2023. These exports include a variety of fruit, wine, red meat, nuts, maize, soya beans and wool.
“China is a strategic market for both livestock and the various fruit industries,” Agri SA CEO Johann Kotzé said.
He said SA “would like to grow” its agricultural exports to China. “In the case of the fruit industry it is important that we address the high tariffs. In the case of the livestock industry, it is important that we share the continued progress in managing animal health.”
According to Sihlobo, the first step will be for the SA authorities to approach China with a range of potential export products and build from there.
“The SA agricultural sector — organised agriculture and researchers — consistently points out the need to lower import tariffs in China and remove phytosanitary constraints on various products. There is now a pathway to have a productive conversation about this matter and move with speed.”
“Market expansion is a key priority of the CGA and we are working towards expanding our exports to all markets throughout the world,” CGA CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele said after meeting with the Chinese ambassador.
According to Ntshabele, the CGA has estimated that by 2032 additional exports can create no less than 100,000 jobs.
A report by Agbiz previously warned that SA’s trade authorities should, as a matter of urgency, expand agricultural export efforts to Gulf and Asian nations amid rising global trade barriers.
This followed concerns about the impact of the (now temporarily paused) 31% tariffs the US imposed on SA exports and the potential damage to agriculture.
“The additional 31% tariff will make SA citrus uncompetitive in the US market,” the CGA said at the time.
Amid the escalating trade war, US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% levy on US products.
A week ago, The Guardian reported that China had warned it would take “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures against countries negotiating with the US if they struck deals at China’s expense during the trade war.
China responded to claims that Trump was planning to pressure other nations into scaling back trade with China in exchange for tariff relief.
Sihlobo noted SA will need to strengthen its trade relations with the US in light of the tariff difficulties, while also deepening trade with China.
“After all, these are both SA’s leading trade partners.”
Asked whether he was concerned that China might impose additional tariffs on SA as a countermeasure, Sihlobo said, “This may not apply to SA as we are not looking to resolve our challenges with the US at the expense of anyone.”
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