October 2026

28 October  Allianz Trade releases its latest Insolvency Report, unveiling updated forecasts for 2026, 2027, and the outlook for 2028. According to the world leader in trade credit insurance, global business insolvencies will rise by +5% in 2026 and +1% in 2027 (+6% in 2025), marking five consecutive years of increases. Given the uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic […]

27 October 2026 – Urgent diplomatic intervention is needed to protect South Africa’s preferential access to the US market as exporters face declining sales and uncertainty over their continued eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Exporters Western Cape CEO Terry Gale has appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa to prioritise the trade relationship,

26 October 2026 – Rising energy costs, climate-related disruptions and growing demand for industrial metals are creating a mixed outlook for South Africa’s economy. In an analysis of global commodity markets, Coface economist Simon Lacoume warns that geopolitical tensions, tightening energy supplies and changing weather patterns are adding pressure to businesses, while stronger demand for

23 October 2026 – South Africa’s logistics cost burden is at its highest level in more than two decades, with a new analysis projecting that the cost of moving goods through the country will reach a record R1.16-trillion in 2026, equivalent to 14.6% of GDP. These findings are contained in the 2026 edition of the

21 October 2026 – South Africa is seeking to expand trade with China and India as deteriorating relations with the United States raise the risk of losing preferential access to the American market, threatening exports and thousands of jobs. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that the country must prepare for possible exclusion from the African

20 October 2026 – South Africa’s manufacturing sector suffered a setback in August, with production falling by 4.3% year-on-year after climbing 1.1% in July. The decline fell below market expectations of a 0.4% increase and was accompanied by a 3.1% month-on-month contraction in seasonally adjusted production, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said. According to Investec

19 October 2026 – High market-entry costs, tariffs and concerns about port efficiency are weighing on efforts to diversify Western Cape export markets, according to findings presented at an industry dialogue last week. In a survey conducted ahead of the second Biannual Export Industry Dialogue in Cape Town on October 13, 89% of export bodies

15 October 2026 – International buyers explored sourcing opportunities offered by South African manufacturers and exporters at Engage Trade Africa 2026 in Durban this week with interest spanning food products, automotive components, pharmaceuticals and other manufactured goods. Buying delegations from Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Egypt, Malaysia, India, Switzerland, the United States and neighbouring SADC countries attended

14 October 2026 – The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Thursday sharply raised its global trade growth forecast for 2026, with merchandise trade riding the AI boom and proving more resilient than expected amid the Middle East crisis. Thanks to supply chain adaptations and the surge in artificial intelligence investments, the WTO now projects 3.9

12 October 2026 – A strengthening El Niño is raising risks for South Africa’s coming agricultural season although it remains too early to attribute changes in deciduous fruit production or exports to the phenomenon, according to industry specialists. The current strong El Niño is expected to strengthen towards a very strong state over the next