SA bucks the Agoa export growth trend

ALAN PEAT
IN THE latest figures available, exports from Africa which are eligible for benefits under the US trade development legislation, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), were up by 45% in the 11-month period up to November last year. Aggregate exports under Agoa were worth US$34‑billion (about R207.4‑bn) for that period compared to US$23.5-bn (about R143.4-bn) over the same period the previous year. While the 37 eligible countries enjoyed varying shares of this export bonanza, South Africa’s exports under the programme were down over 15% in dollar-terms, according to a report from the Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa (tralac). “Most other leading exporters,” it added, “continued to grow their duty-free exports to the US.”