Wandile Sihlobo

1 week ago | businesslive.co.za | Wandile Sihlobo

We are waiting for more details on China’s intentions to lower import tariffs for various African countries. What is worth emphasising for now is that, from a South African agricultural perspective, this would be a welcome development. China is profoundly important in global agriculture. In 2023, it was a leading importer, accounting for 11% of global agricultural imports, with imports valued at $218bn.

2 weeks ago | wandilesihlobo.com | Wandile Sihlobo

I’m at the airport in Kimberly in the Northern Cape as I type this, and I just saw the news that China aims to lower import tariffs on a range of goods from various African countries. We are yet to receive more details on China’s intentions to lower import tariffs for various African countries. What is worth emphasising for now is that, from a South African agricultural perspective, this would be a welcome development. China has profound importance in global agriculture.

2 weeks ago | wandilesihlobo.com | Wandile Sihlobo

In a year where trade has dominated the headlines since the U.S. started imposing higher tariffs against its trading partners, agricultural export activity is worth paying close attention to. Encouragingly, the start of the year has remained positive for the sector. In the first quarter of 2025, South Africa’s agricultural exports totalled US$ 3.36 billion, up 10% from the same period a year ago, according to data from Trade Map.

2 weeks ago | wandilesihlobo.com | Wandile Sihlobo

Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and the author of three books, “The Uncomfortable Truth About South Africa’s Agriculture (2025)”, “A Country of Two Agricultures: The Disparities, The Challenges, The Solutions (2023)” and “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture (2020)“. He is a Senior Lecturer Extraordinary at the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University.

2 weeks ago | businesslive.co.za | Wandile Sihlobo

The frequent outbreaks of animal diseases in SA’s agriculture pose a risk to its growth. The latest crisis, marked by separate outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, has once again brought the issue of animal biosecurity in SA into the spotlight. The constant recurrence of the disease will ultimately reduce earnings and export opportunities to high-value markets. This could lead to financial pressures on cattle farming businesses, and they may struggle to meet all their financial commitments.