Approximately 44% of South Africa’s agricultural exports flow into African markets, making the continent our leading destination for the products. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is designed to amplify this opportunity for all African countries through deepened intra-Africa trade.
While the need for tariff reductions and trade agreements has been largely addressed through AfCFTA's signatories, the real transformation will come from investing in the physical infrastructure and technology needed to move products more efficiently across borders.
For example, much of South Africa's agricultural produce destined for other African markets still travels by sea rather than overland, which highlights the infrastructure challenges and heightened expense still facing those who want to trade with their African neighbours.
- Read the full piece by Paul Makube, senior agricultural economist at FNB, in our “Columns” section.
