trade

Farming – a hazardous occupation Australian wine output leaps 9%, outpacing demand Production conditions in South Africa’s agriculture in 2025 and the outlook for 2026 World Farming Agriculture and Commodity news - Short update 8th December 2025 WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Do City People Really Understand What South African Farmers Face? AGRI NEWS NET- WEEKEND NEWS RUSH Summary of the Week News 7 Desember 2025 Whatever Trump says, whites are not doing badly in South Africa What’s the Difference Between Brown and White Eggs? SA’s award-winning thicket project on track to create 100,000 jobs and revive 800,000 hectares African forest elephants: new data reveal a clearer, urgent picture

Africa must cut trade deficit with China and look to itself

In the midst of the latest merry-go-round with China, once more foreign aid takes centre stage with a bouquet of loan offers, cancellations and grants concocted for the continent. This helps, but is far from the answer to our medium- and long-term development goals. The answer lies with fairer trade and with the continent looking within itself for products and markets.

Trade Gap Hits Six-Month High as Soybean Exports Plunge 28%- USA

he U.S. trade deficit widened in August to the biggest in six months as soybean exports plunged and a measure of the gap with China hit a record, showing how the Trump administration’s trade war is dragging on economic growth.

Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition in Africa a must for farmers as well as the public

Agri-Expo Livestock and the Groot Plaasproe, honoured with the prestigious ROAR exhibition industry award as Best Trade and Consumer Exhibition in Africa in January this year, will be back this week from Thursday 11 to Saturday 13 October at Sandringham outside Stellenbosch.

WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- Eskom -.Transnet appears to be making significant progress

Since June 2024, the survival of South Africa’s national government coalition has hinged on whether voters perceive tangible improvements in their lives, and recent evidence suggests progress in several key areas, often driven by the ANC abandoning long-held ideological positions. Load shedding has vanished, Eskom has introduced a coherent plan to manage load reduction, and Transnet is markedly improving rail services for mining, with Kumba Iron Ore reporting a 7% sales increase on October 29, 2025, due to better rail performance. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is inviting private sector involvement in railways, including rapid inter-city links, while Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has launched a process to recognise private universities able to award full degrees, easing pressure on public institutions.

Gauteng’s driving licence centres have transformed from nightmares to highly rated services, the South African Revenue Service collected more tax than expected in the first half of the fiscal year, and the police and National Prosecuting Authority are showing signs of reform, with figures like Ace Magashule facing charges and dangerous criminals jailed.Yet for millions, especially the poor, these gains feel distant: no load shedding means little when electricity is unaffordable, and improved mining rail transport does not help those who left school early. Still, the structural reforms in electricity and transport should eventually spur investment and growth, though companies currently appear to be hoarding capital rather than expanding.Crucially, the ANC is now implementing changes it once fiercely resisted. It has opened electricity generation and sales to the private sector, invited private rail partnerships, and enabled private universities—shifts led by ANC and even SACP ministers like Creecy and Manamela.

Eleven years ago, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi opposed private medical training to prevent only the rich becoming doctors; today, ideology has yielded to necessity. Having failed through state-centric policies and cadre deployment, the ANC faces voter pressure and coalition realities that leave no alternative but pragmatic reform and greater private involvement.This ideological flexibility may foster better policy, enhance democratic accountability, and ease long-term coalition cooperation, as the ANC proves it must deliver real improvements to survive electorally.

VIEWPOINT-South Africa’s Water Control Measures: A Threat to Food Security?

The GNU’s survival now rests onperception, not promises—and for once, the ANC is deliveringresults by dismantling its own sacred cows. Ending load shedding, fixing rail for miners, opening universities to private degrees, and turning licence centres from hell to 4.5-star service aretangible wins that even the most cynical voter can feel. When Kumba Iron Ore logs a 7% sales jump becausetrains actually move, that’s not spin; that’s steel on tracks.But let’s not pop champagne in Sandton while Soweto still counts coins for electricity. The poor see no load shedding yet pay more per unit than ever. A faster coal train doesn’t buy bread for a 14-year-old dropout.

These reforms are real, but they’re elite-adjacent—they fix systems for those already in the game, not the millions locked out.Thereal story is the ANC eating its ideology alive. The same party that once screamed “privatisation is betrayal” now begs the private sector to run rails, generate power, and teach doctors. Blade Nzimande must be choking on his red beret watching SACP comrade Manamela green-light private universities. Aaron Motsoaledi, who blocked private medical schools to “stop rich kids becoming doctors,” now presides over a health system begging private hospitals to train more medics—becausestate failure left no choice.This isn’t conversion; it’ssurvival. The ANC finally grasped that voters don’t eat manifestos. Coalition politics stripped away the luxury of dogma. When your majority is gone,results trump rhetoric.The danger?Reform theatre.

If private rail slots go to connected tenders, if private universities become diploma mills for the rich, if tax windfalls fund cadres not classrooms—the GNU dies not from opposition, but frombetraying its own pragmatism.The opportunity? Acompetitive democracy where parties govern bydelivery, not ideology. Where the ANC mustout-perform the DA, not out-slogan it. Where “mixed economy” stops being code for state capture and becomes actual partnership.Verdict:

The GNU is passing thedelivery test—barely, and only in pockets. But the ANC’s ideological U-turn is the silent earthquake. If it holds, South Africa might just stumble into a future wherepolicy serves people, not party ghosts.

Want to join our popular weekly viewpoint? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.! You can make your own Viewpoint. - Our Professional civilized approach to your option is respected.

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by CRA and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Higher prices, lower profits and job losses – what the global trade war means for South Africa

With US President Donald Trump threatening to raise import duties on an additional $267 billion worth of Chinese products on top of the tariffs already in place, it is worth pausing to reflect on what the trade wars of the past can teach us about the likely outcomes of the current dispute, especially as South Africa seems likely to get caught up in the cross-fire.

Trade with Southern Africa grows

Two-way agricultural trade between the United States and countries in Southern Africa reached a record $1.5 billion last year, according to most recent international ag trade report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brexit will not disrupt trade relations between UK and South Africa

South Africa’s Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies has stated that Brexit will not disrupt trade relations between the UK and SA. Davies said the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu), of which SA is a part, is close to finalising a deal with the UK to replicate the existing economic partnership agreement which the customs union has with the EU. Sacu is a customs union in Southern Africa which includes SA, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini (Swaziland).

Weather, politics driving grain trade

The world’s grain markets face a year of challenges and uncertainty, with weather and politics likely to drive trade flows and prices, said the keynote speaker at the Global Grain Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Good performance in South Africa agricultural exports despite drought

Wandile Sihlobo, agricultural economist, at Agribusiness Research at the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) of South Africa, comments on South Africa’s agricultural exports.

What could be on China’s agriculture shopping list?-

The US and China have for the past three months been locked in discussions about how to overcome a trade dispute that has slowed Chinese economic growth and seen the US-China trade balance slump to a record low last year.

Is the African Continental Free Trade Area a Game Changer for the Continent?

I just read an insightful, recently published paper from the International Monetary Fund titled: Is the African Continental Free Trade Area a Game Changer for the Continent?

Does the US-China trade friction present any opportunities in the near term that SA agricultural sector can explore?

One of the questions I am often asked is whether the US-China trade friction presents any opportunities in the near term that South Africa’s agricultural sector can explore.

South Africa agricultural trade surplus expands by 11% y/y in the first quarter of 2019

If I do not write about South Africa’s first quarter of 2019 agricultural trade figures, one would assume that there have been limited positive developments in this sector as the past few months have been clouded by unwelcoming news.

South Africa agricultural trade surplus expands by 11% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2019

If I do not write about South Africa’s first quarter of 2019 agricultural trade figures, one would assume that there have been limited positive developments in this sector as the past few months have been clouded by unwelcoming news.

Cotton SA is hanging by a thread as local policy failed to stand up - South Africa

The local Sustainable Cotton Cluster (SCC) is dreaming big. It is planning to launch a sustainable and transparent cotton production and beneficiation pipeline in South Africa, successfully connect it to offshore supply chains, and tap into a growing global consumer conscience.

South African agriculture, with certain exceptions, faces slow growth in coming years

South African agriculture, with certain exceptions, faces slow growth in coming years

Here’s how Japan plans to drive Africa investment

– Japan will offer enhanced trade insurance to boost private sector investment in Africa, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday as his country competes with rival China for influence in the resource-rich continent.

Africa aims to rebalance trade with China through avocado strategy

More than 50 African countries took part in the first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in China in June, hoping to tap into the massive Chinese market.

New pact a game changer for intra-Africa trade

A united African continent working towards common goals would be a major force on the global economic stage.

Africa should focus on industrialisation. Free trade will follow

The African Continental Free Trade Area is a continental agreement which came into force in May 2019.