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.

29 June 2026 – South Africa has seen an additional 225 businesses liquidated in May, taking the total to 1,116 for 2026 so far. The total number of liquidations decreased by 16.0% in May 2026 compared with May 2025, from 268 to 225, respectively. However, the number of liquidations increased by 5.2% (from 698 to

26 June 2026 – A 50% import tariff on apples entering India is putting pressure on the competitiveness of South African exports, particularly as competing suppliers secure reduced tariffs through trade agreements. The warning comes from fruit exporter Tru-Cape, which says securing preferential access to the Indian market has become increasingly important, despite South African

25 June 2026 – As the Middle East moves towards a fragile lull in hostilities, the economic shock caused by the conflict – supply chains perturbation, inflation… – is already spreading to the global economy. Against this backdrop, Coface has carried out 8 country downgrades and 45 sector rating changes (41 downgrades, compared with just

24 June 2026 – South Africa’s inflation outlook may improve in the coming months as easing oil prices filter through to lower fuel costs, but a developing super El Niño weather phenomenon poses a far greater threat to consumers and could push inflation into double digits next year. This is according to Investec chief economist