Sihlobo says the South African agricultural sector, and specifically, the expansion in the sector over the recent past, is heavily reliant on exports.  South Africa exports roughly 49% of its agricultural products in value terms. Hence, the newly launched African Free Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) that would potentially open additional avenues for South African products to destinations where the country hasn’t largely participated in over the recent past. This would practically mean an increase in the share of South Africa’s agricultural exports to the continent, rather than mainly focusing on growing other well-established markets. He adds AfCFTA is expected to make 90% of trade within the continent duty-free by July 2020. This is set to increase to 97% over the next decade as more duties on an additional number of products are phased out.

Here is Sihlobo…

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

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