July 2026

31 July 2026 – The United States has confirmed that most South African imports will be subject to a 12.5% tariff under its new Section 301 forced-labour trade action, after South Africa failed to secure a lower rate despite submissions by government and industry. The new tariffs now in effect, replace the temporary 10% tariff […]

29 July 2026 – Unlocking the potential of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across South Africa and the broader continent will require an aligned ecosystem of structured capital, clear policy frameworks and streamlined cross-border logistics. That was the key message from panel discussions and fireside chats at the Second International Special Economic Zones Conference held at

27 July 2026 – South Africa’s GDP growth is expected to slightly accelerate to +1.3% in 2026 and +1.5% in 2027, after a slower-than-expected +1.1% in 2025. Last year was challenging, given the budget disagreements within the Government of National Unity, as well as the implementation of 35%  tariffs from the US. South Africa is considerably more exposed to the US market compared to other economies in the African continent,

24 July 2026 – South Africans are showing fewer signs of financial distress in one of the country’s most severe measures of debt, even as a growing body of evidence suggests many households remain under intense economic pressure. Statistics South Africa’s latest Statistics of Insolvencies report shows that just 61 individuals and partnerships were declared

23 July 2026 – The heightened concerns come after Trump issued a proclamation imposing an additional 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, citing what the administration described as discriminatory trade practices by one of America’s largest trading partners. The additional tariffs are set to take effect

22 July 2026 – The crude oil price returning to about $72/bl at the end of June had positive effects on business and particularly on general trade conditions for the month and improved trade expectations, reports business organisation the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci). Sales prices remained stable in June, although the general price level, or inflation, partially started

21 July 2026 – Concern over global supply chain disruption remains close to record levels despite easing slightly from earlier this year, with geopolitical instability, cyber threats and rising logistics costs continuing to shape business decisions, according to the latest Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Pulse Survey. The second-quarter 2026 survey found that

20 July 2026 – The United Kingdom imported 1.2 billion liters of wine in 2025, down from 1.277 billion liters in 2024, a decline of 6.0%, according to figures published on July 10 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs using HMRC data. In real terms, the value of those imports fell to

17 July 2026 – Africa is entering a new project cargo investment cycle, with major developments in LNG, mining, renewable energy and industrial infrastructure driving demand for heavy-lift and specialised logistics. As governments and private investors commit billions of dollars to projects across the continent, the sector is preparing for a pipeline of increasingly complex

15 July 2026 – The emerging 2026-27 El Niño has the potential to become the strongest climate event in more than a decade. While weather events are often viewed as operational risks, this one is more appropriately understood as a macroeconomic event with implications for inflation, trade flows, supply chains and corporate earnings. The IMF estimates