Food exports in South Africa
South Africa: Food exports was 12.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Food exports in South Africa, 1974–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food exports in South Africa is 12.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in South Africa peaked at 28.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 1984.
That places South Africa 119th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Food exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 27.3% | — |
| 1975 | 28.7% | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 23.1% | -19.3% |
| 1977 | 18.9% | -18.2% |
| 1978 | 17.2% | -9.3% |
| 1979 | 14.7% | -14.6% |
| 1980 | 8.7% | -40.4% |
| 1981 | 9.8% | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 9.4% | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 6.4% | -31.4% |
| 1984 | 5.7% | -11.1% |
| 1992 | 8.2% | +42.3% |
| 1993 | 6.5% | -20.7% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | +32.4% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | +39.0% |
| 1997 | 10.8% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +11.9% |
| 1999 | 10.2% | -15.8% |
| 2000 | 8.5% | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 9.0% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 10.6% | +17.7% |
| 2003 | 9.9% | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -11.8% |
| 2005 | 8.5% | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 7.1% | -16.4% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | +11.5% |
| 2009 | 10.1% | +38.3% |
| 2010 | 10.0% | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -16.2% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 9.8% | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 10.3% | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 10.7% | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 11.2% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 10.9% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 11.1% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 11.0% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | +7.9% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | -18.5% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 11.7% | +12.3% |
| 2024 | 12.2% | +4.4% |
| 2025 | 12.8% | +4.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 12.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 64% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 12.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 46% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.6% | 14.7% | 28.7% | 6 |
| 1980s | 8.0% | 5.7% | 9.8% | 5 |
| 1990s | 9.4% | 6.5% | 12.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 8.6% | 6.6% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.2% | 8.3% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 9.7% | 12.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 1,978 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in South Africa?
- Food exports in South Africa was 12.8% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28.7% in 1975.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 1984.
- How does South Africa rank for food exports?
- South Africa ranks 119th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.