
Global grain supplies remain solid
While we are still early in the season, and a lot could change depending on the weather conditions over the coming weeks and months and crop development in the Southern Hemisphere when the season starts in October, the current prospects are broadly positive. If this optimistic crop production materialises, we could see a recovery in the global grains and oilseeds stocks, thus keeping global grain prices sideways over the medium term.

SA agricultural exports remained robust in the second half of the year
South Africa’s agricultural exports amounted to US$3.4 billion in the second quarter of this year, up by 0,1% y/y. Despite challenges in key export markets such as the EU in the case of citrus, the products that dominated the export list this quarter were citrus, maize, apples and pears, wine, sugar, soybeans, wool, avocados, pineapples, fruit juices, nuts, and grapes.

South Africa’s agricultural machinery sales were down in August 2023
We are now convinced that the relatively more robust agricultural machinery sales of the first half of this year were primarily a tail-end benefit of the past season when large harvests and higher commodity prices boosted grain farmers’ finances. The delivery delays of the orders raised the sales figures for the first half of the year.

What to make of the South African government’s concerns about higher food prices?
If food processors and retailers accounted for all these cost increases across the value chain, consumers would face a much sharper price increase. But this was not the case in South Africa. Food prices increased at a moderate pace, averaging 9,5% in 2022, compared with 6,5% year on year in 2021. Countries like the US, Brazil, and the EU saw higher consumer food price inflation rates.

South Africa’s agricultural gross value added improved in Q2, 2023
After a sharp contraction of -11,9% quarter-on-quarter (seasonally adjusted) in the first quarter of 2023, South Africa’s agricultural gross value added grew by 4,2% in the second quarter. This improvement is based on the robust production conditions of various field crops and horticulture, which weren’t reflected in the first quarter data because of a delayed start to the 2022/23 production season and the base effects.

Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in BRICS+ bodes well for South Africa’s agricultural exports
Initially, South African agribusinesses had their eyes on China and India as countries with reasonably higher tariffs on some agricultural products and a range of non-tariff barriers. With the inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the BRICS, South Africa would now look at three significant markets to broaden agricultural exports.