July 2026

14 July 2026 – South Africa has called on the US not to impose a proposed additional 12.5% tariff on its exports, arguing that its existing laws provide sufficient powers to prevent goods produced using forced labour from entering the country. The request follows a finding by the US Trade Representative (USTR) that South Africa […]

13 July 2026 – After having lost momentum in Q4, the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) recovered strongly in Q1 2026. The index increased for three consecutive months to reach an index level of 125.0, the highest since May 2024. At this level, the index was up by 6.2% compared to Q4 2025

10 July 2026 – The US trade deficit widened in May as a broad-based increase in imports and a decline in exports propelled the gap to the most in more than a year. The gap in goods and services trade grew 42.2% from the prior month to $77.6 billion, Commerce Department data showed Tuesday. The

9 July 2026 – South Africa’s agricultural sector has marked a defining milestone with the launch of its first large-scale stone fruit export to China, signalling a new era of market expansion and economic opportunity. The occasion was underscored by a high-level visit from Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng to

7 July 2026 – As we pass the midpoint of 2026, the global food supply chain remains resilient in the face of major disruptions domestically and in global trade. But we must not take this resilience for granted, and it is vital that industry and government work together to deliver the regulatory changes needed for

6 July 2026 – Modern infrastructure alone will not unlock Africa’s trade potential, with smarter border systems, digital integration and regional collaboration equally important for improving cross-border trade, according to the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF). The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was giving intra-Africa trade significant momentum, with trade expected to

3 July 2026 – South Africa’s logistics crisis has come at a significant economic cost. According to synthesis data compiled by The Geography of Transport Systems, based on World Bank and international logistics datasets, logistics costs can account for up to 25% of GDP in developing economies, compared to around 8% in advanced economies. This underscores how transport and logistics systems directly influence

2 July 2026 – South Africa recorded a preliminary trade deficit of R1.8 billion in May as exports declined and imports increased, according to the latest preliminary trade statistics released by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Exports totalled R178.8bn in May, down 5.7% from R189.7bn in April, while imports rose 3.1% to R180.6bn from

1 July 2026 – South Africa (SA) is drawing up new economic blueprints as the country seeks to expand trade and investment within the enlarged Brazil, Russia, India, China, and SA (BRICS)-Plus framework, following the conclusion of the first in a series of structured consultative dialogues by the SA Chapter of the BRICS Business Council.