Here is Sihlobo…

He says Africa, as a continent, has been a key driver of the South African agricultural export success over the past decade as the continent over the past decade accounted for an average of 44% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. This equals an average of US$3.9 billion worth of agricultural exports. The top ten leading markets were Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mauritius and Nigeria. Another attributing factor is products exported to the continent were generally mixed, ranging from sugar, beverages and spirits, to grains, cotton, and vegetable oil, amongst other products. According to him the share of almost all agricultural products to the continent has grown over the past decade with the exception of grains, which experienced a decline. The role of grains is by no means reduced, as the livestock and poultry sector, which we believe will grow in the coming years, will require grains and oil seeds as feed. The decline of the African continent’s share in South Africa’s grain export markets has not caused disruption in domestic production. 

Still Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Agbiz, who in his weekly insert on South African agricultural issues, speaks about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provided an upward revision in its monthly Word Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report.

The report indicated the US maize production estimate were up from levels presented in July this year to 353 million tonnes, while soybean production in the United States was revised down from the previous month’s levels by 4% to 100 million tonnes.

See attached PODCAST

That was Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Agbiz.  

OFM News