Africa is not SA’s biggest market

No African country was among South Africa’s top ten export markets in 2007. While six of South Africa’s top ten export markets were European Union member states, seven out of ten of South Africa’s top export markets in Africa were SADC member states. In 2007, approximately 15% of South Africa’s exports were to Africa,” says Hilda Moja, deputy director: export promotion – Africa & Middle East of the Department of Trade & Industry (dti). She further notes that the fastestgrowing regions in terms of South African exports were the Caribbean with 516% and Eastern Europe with 77.1%. The increased export to the Caribbean was largely attributed to increased exports in agro-processed and food products. “Over 21 of the regions to which South Africa exports showed export growth rates exceeding 20% in 2007. Exports are largely dominated by manufactured products. The top export products in 2007 were platinum products, ferroalloys, coal, centrifuges, vehicles, diamonds, aluminium, stainless steel, iron and iron ore, petroleum oils, wine, and citrus fruit,” notes Moja.