South Africa eyes China as record soybean harvest lifts export outlook
In Kenya, Milling Middle East & Africa reported that South Africa could begin exporting part of its growing soybean surplus to China during the 2026/2027 marketing year as record production and improved trade access create fresh opportunities for the country’s agricultural sector.
Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), said the country’s larger soybean harvest could support exports once local demand is met, according to the report.
The Crop Estimates Committee expects South Africa to harvest 3 million tons of soybeans in 2026, up 7% from the previous season. The forecast marks the largest soybean crop on record for the country, it added.
“In South Africa, we want to strengthen our access to the Chinese market for many agricultural products. The recently signed China-Africa Framework for Shared Prosperity, which reduces tariffs on goods to zero, provides us with a tremendous opportunity for access for a wide variety of agricultural products,” said Sihlobo.
Category: Food & Agriculture
