Zimbabwe was highlighted as a strategically important market for South African agriculture at the South Africa – Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum, with agricultural exports reportedly reaching about $1.2 billion, or R16 billion, in 2025.
Francois Rossouw, CEO of the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), said Zimbabwe is a strategically important market for South African agriculture.
He said the relationshipwith the country is beneficial for the sector because it creates reliable regional demand, supports farmer incomes, strengthens agro-processing and logistics value chains, and reinforces South Africa’s role as a leading supplier of maize, wheat, fresh produce, processed foods and beverages in the region.
“In a constrained global environment, strong agricultural trade with neighbouring countries is not only good business, but also vital for regional food security and economic integration,” Rossouw said.
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said discussions at the forum focused on strengthening trade, industrialisation and the development of regional value chains.
“With agriculture accounting for 9.5% of Zimbabwe’s GDP, according to World Bank data, it is natural that the discussions also included the sector,” Sihlobo said.
He said the focus was on deepening value addition in both countries to achieve more balanced trade.
“Zimbabwe has been one of the most important export markets for South Africa’s agricultural products, ranking second only to the Netherlands. From an individual-country perspective, Zimbabwe is likely South Africa’s most significant export market for agriculture,” Sihlobo said.
“In 2025, South Africa exported agricultural products to Zimbabwe worth an estimated $1.2 billion, or about R16 billion. This is about 8% of South Africa’s agricultural exports.”
Sihlobo said this was equal to the value of agricultural products South Africa exported to the Middle East or BRICS countries.
The agricultural products South Africa exports to Zimbabwe differ from those exported to the European Union, the Middle East, BRICS countries and other regions, he said.
“The key agricultural export products to Zimbabwe are mainly maize, soybeans, prepared foods, bottled water, soybean oil, sauces and condiments, seasonings and spices, animal feed, wheat, preserved vegetables and fruit juices, among other products,” Sihlobo said.
Professor Simphiwe Madikizela, senior lecturer in economics at Unisa’s School of Graduate Business and Leadership, said the agricultural trade relationship between South Africa and Zimbabwe has deep historical roots.
“The two countries had a bilateral trade agreement dating back to 1964, which was subsequently reviewed and eventually superseded by the broader SADC Free Trade Area,” Madikizela said.
“This is not a new trading relationship. It has developed over generations and has been strengthened by geographical proximity, similar consumption patterns and increasingly integrated regional markets.”
Madikizela said the relationship is highly beneficial to South Africa’s agricultural sector, with Zimbabwe now one of the most important markets for South African agricultural products.
“The importance of Zimbabwe is understandable from an economic and geographical perspective. It is a neighbouring market, which means South African producers have relatively shorter transport distances and lower logistical barriers than when exporting to distant international markets,” he said.
Madikizela said South Africa’s agricultural exports to Zimbabwe include food and horticultural products, cereals and processed agricultural goods.
Vegetables are particularly significant, he said. In 2024, vegetables accounted for about R11.9bn of South Africa’s overall exports to Zimbabwe. Maize is another strategically important product, as Zimbabwe has frequently experienced domestic production shortfalls, creating opportunities for South African producers and grain exporters to supply the market.
TLU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl said access to the Zimbabwean market was positive for South African producers.
“We are grateful for any market such as Zimbabwe,” Van Zyl said. “It is unfortunate that our rail network is not operating as efficiently as it could. We would be able to export more to Zimbabwe, but we now rely on trucks and there are delays.
“However, we are still pleased with Zimbabwe as an export market, along with other neighbouring countries.”
Dawie Maree, head of FNB Agriculture Marketing and Information, said Zimbabwe can be a key export destination for South African products.
“This is true during periods when Zimbabwe has low production of commodities such as maize,” Maree said.
“In theory, it should be cheaper to export to Zimbabwe than to countries such as China, provided border posts operate efficiently.”
yogashen.pillay@nationalmg.co.za