The US–Israeli war on Iran could heavily impact South African agricultural exports.
While South Africa's recordbreaking agricultural trade performance in 2025 is a boon for the economy, it highlights farmers’ exposure to volatile global conditions.
In 2025, agricultural exports reached R266,2 billion, up 8,8% year-on-year, while imports rose to R141,6 billion, producing a trade surplus of R124,6 billion, up 16,4% y/y.
AgriSA's Annual Trade Report 2025, released last month, analysed local agricultural trade performance from 2021 to 2025. It showed that around half of production is exported, leaving farmers highly exposed to global conditions.
In the past five years, the sector faced headwinds from COVID-19, the Ukraine war, the European Green Deal, US tariffs, and now the Iran conflict.
Dr Mmatlou Kalaba, a senior analyst at the Bureau for Food…