Sourcing origins for importers: South Africa as a counter-seasonal fruit origin
Dated export figures from South Africa's National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) show what the country ships at scale. Availability for your request is confirmed only after supplier outreach.
Short answer
South Africa is a substantial agricultural exporter: NAMC reports agricultural exports of US$13.7 billion in 2024, with grapes the largest single export at US$818.8 million, up 36.8% year on year. In Q1 2025, fresh grapes accounted for 21% of agricultural export value.
Treat these as examples of export strength, not current inventory. Varieties, volumes and shipping windows change by season and region, so our team confirms availability, grade and documents for each request.
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One reviewed request: commodity and specification, volume, destination, delivery window and preferred terms. Free for buyers; B2B requests from USD 250,000.
South Africa: leading agricultural exports in 2024
NAMC lists grapes, maize, oranges, mandarins and apples as the leading agricultural exports in 2024. Wine, avocados, lemons, wool and sugar were also among the top exports.
| Product | Exports 2024 (US$ million) |
|---|---|
| Grapes | 818.8 |
| Maize | 814.7 |
| Oranges | 774.0 |
| Mandarins | 588.1 |
| Apples | 575.1 |
Values in US$ million (NAMC, 2024). Maize is shown because NAMC lists it; this center focuses on fresh produce, seafood and poultry & eggs.
Where South African agricultural exports went in Q1 2025
In Q1 2025 South Africa's agricultural exports were worth US$3.4 billion. Fresh grapes led with 21% of value, followed by maize (7%), apples and pears (3%), plums and sloes (3%), wine (3%) and wool (3%).
| Destination | Share of export value, Q1 2025 |
|---|---|
| Africa | 45% |
| European Union | 23% |
| Asia | 16% |
| United Kingdom | 8% |
| Americas | 6% |
| of which United States | 4% |
Share of export value by destination (NAMC, Q1 2025). The United States share is part of the Americas share.
Why the season matters
As a Southern Hemisphere origin, South Africa can supply fruit when Northern Hemisphere harvests are out of season. Shipping windows differ by variety, growing region and year, so we do not publish a fixed calendar. Tell us your delivery window and the team checks which origins can realistically meet it.
What to specify for South African fruit
- Table grapes — variety, berry size, colour, punnet or carton packing.
- Citrus — oranges, mandarins or lemons; count size, grade and treatment requirements.
- Apples and pears — variety, size, grade and storage history.
- Avocados — variety, count size and ripeness stage at dispatch.
Export controls on the South African side
Fresh fruit leaves South Africa under the country's plant-health export procedure, which includes phytosanitary certification and, for some markets, special export protocols and registered producers. The Department of Agriculture publishes the procedure and the market protocols; PPECB provides export inspection for perishable products.
Market access can change. In its Q1 2025 review, NAMC noted that tariffs announced by the United States in April 2025 and disease-related import suspensions created uncertainty for South African agricultural trade. We check the conditions in force for your destination when your request is reviewed.
Other origins
We approach suppliers in any origin that fits the specification and destination, including other fruit-exporting countries and seafood-producing countries. An origin is proposed only for a specific request, after supplier outreach.
Sources and official links
Market data year: 2024 and Q1 2025 (NAMC) · Regulatory and source information last reviewed:
- NAMC — South Africa's agricultural trade performance in 2024 — checked 2026-10-22
- NAMC — Trade performance of South Africa's agricultural sector in Quarter 1 of 2025 — checked 2026-10-22
- South Africa Department of Agriculture — Exporting from SA (plant health) — checked 2026-10-22
- PPECB — Perishable Products Export Control Board (South Africa) — official portal
Frequently asked questions
Is South African fruit available now?
We cannot say without your specification and dates. The figures on this page describe past exports (2024 and Q1 2025). Availability is confirmed only after the team contacts suppliers for your request.
Can South African fruit be shipped to the EU, US or China?
South Africa exports to all three regions, but eligibility depends on the product, the destination's plant-health rules and any protocol in force at the time. The importer must confirm requirements with the destination authority; we help gather the documents suppliers can provide.
Do you only work with South Africa?
No. South Africa is shown because it is a large, well-documented fruit origin. We source from any origin that fits the request.
In this importer center
Country markets: 2024 trade evidence by HS code — 18 import markets and origins, hubs such as the Netherlands, seasonal windows, access rules, official authorities and an evidence-ranked corridor map. Global B2B Opportunities Center — five produce corridors with a dated status: SA cherries and stone fruit to China, Indian grapes to Vietnam, Indian produce to Canada, SA apples to Thailand. Import glossary — phytosanitary certificates, HS codes, CHED, Incoterms® and landed cost, with sources. Importer demand map — 15 markets matched to 2024 flows from Peru, Ecuador, India, Kenya and Colombia. Buyer sourcing service — one confidential request, several screened suppliers. Origin export guides — 2024 export flows and national statistics for five origins. Import duties and entry rules for fresh fruit and vegetables — where 16 markets publish duty, import VAT/GST, plant-health and food-safety rules, with a quote-request checklist (12 languages). Market entry guides: Great Britain (IPAFFS, CHED, BTOM), United States (prior notice, FSVP, APHIS), Japan (plant quarantine, food import notification), Japan buyer map (Ecuador, Peru, India, Kenya, Colombia), origin export guide for those origins, Japan import-readiness checklists, for Japanese importers, UAE and Saudi Arabia (MOCCAE, SFDA Ghad, FASAH), South Korea (MFDS registration, PLS, seafood certificates), EU via the Netherlands (phytosanitary, CHED, KCB marketing standards) and supplier certifications. Origin guide: certified organic produce from Brazil (MAPA rules, CNPO checks).
Global B2B Group is a managed sourcing service. We are not a supplier, importer of record, certifier, carrier or customs broker. Figures are dated reference points from the cited sources; availability, documents, prices and timings are confirmed for each request. No availability, regulatory clearance, delivery or savings is guaranteed. Global B2B Group accepts no paid placement: suppliers cannot pay for inclusion, ranking or recommendation. Buyers pay nothing. The selected supplier pays a fee only after the deal or project proceeds; this is disclosed to buyers. Suppliers are invited against documented selection criteria, not the fee.