Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines

EU agreement begins to prove its worth

07 Sep 2001 - by Staff reporter
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

Alan Peat
IT IS difficult to assess the impact of the free trade pact with Europe, according to Liz Whitehouse of Liz Whitehouse & Associates, but there are positive indications.
"The SA-European Union (EU) trade and development co-operation agreement has been in operation since January 1 last year," she said, "and trade figures are now available."
But there is no separation of statistics indicating the increases that have been due to the FTA (free trade agreement).
The nearest indicator was the statement from an EU official that growth in SA-EU trade was well above that in Europe's trade with the rest of the world.
The official suggested that the implementation of the agreement - "coupled with favourable trade conditions" - had led to a 35% jump in SA's exports to the EU last year. At the same time, EU exports to SA increased by 20%.
"The free trade agreement is beginning to prove its worth," he said.
A market study by Business Day revealed some of the main players in this growth in SA exports to the EU last year - and estimated their contributions to the upturn.
l Biggest percentage growth was recorded by flat-rolled products of stainless steel - which saw an export boom of 115% (R570-m) compared with 1999. SA producers now supply a third of all these imports into the EU.
l Another big percentage performer was purifying and filtration equipment - with growth of 74% (R1.8-bn), and now supplying 28% of such products to the EU.
l SA agri-exports to Europe last year grew by 7.3% - and now account for about 10% (R9-bn) of total exports to the EU.
l Exports of local wines grew by 23% (about R300-m) last year, with local producers estimated to have a 14% share of the EU market.
l SA fruit juice producers, meantime, increased their exports by 53% - with additional earnings of R50m - while bottled water exports last year grew tenfold, and now comprise 4.4% of this market in Europe.
l Fish product exports are also on the up-and-up, although observers suggest that this product line would still be in demand even without the agreement. These exports rose 20% (R160-m) last year.
l Gold, platinum, coal and diamonds also grew, and are now estimated to represent 46% of SA's exports to the EU.
Also benefiting were the iron and steel producers - with SA ferro alloy producers looking at import duties on certain of their products cut by as much as 25%. The industry reckons that this contributed to last year's 28% increase in exports and its extra earnings of R700-m - with SA producers now supplying some 21% of the overall imports of these specialised products into the EU.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

FTW - 7 Sep 01

View PDF
Freight City liquidated
07 Sep 2001
Steel industry fights new US duties
07 Sep 2001
Customs stops expose cargo to extra risk
07 Sep 2001
Crew stages hunger strike over non-payment of salaries
07 Sep 2001
Deregulation has sounded a death knell for rail
07 Sep 2001
New forum unites port users
07 Sep 2001
German partners strengthen ties
07 Sep 2001
Swaziland considers toll roads to raise revenue
07 Sep 2001
P&O Ports impress with new toy
07 Sep 2001
Capespan affiliate empowers women
07 Sep 2001
Speedy action can reduce cargo damage
07 Sep 2001
Spoornet needs to market its services far more rigorously
07 Sep 2001
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Road & Rail 27 June 2025

Border Beat

Forum tightens net against border corruption
25 Jun 2025
Police clamp down on cross-border crime
17 Jun 2025
Zim's anti-smuggling measures delay legitimate freight operations
06 Jun 2025
More

Poll

Has South Africa's ports turned the corner?

Featured Jobs

New

Multi-Modal Controller

Tiger Recruitment
JHB North
27 Jun

Commercial Manager

Lee Botti & Associates
Durban
25 Jun
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us