SA exports to US accelerate

ALAN PEAT
SA EXPORT volumes to the US are accelerating with close to 30% growth recorded in the first eight months of this year, according to information released to FTW by the Southern Africa Trade Law Centre (tralac). The latest US International Trade Commission figures reveal that, in the year to August, SA exported goods to the value of
US$4.9-billion (R37-bn) to the US. This represents growth of 29% from the same period last year – up from growth of 25% in the year to June. There is also a healthy growth rate in exports falling under the under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa) duty-free trade deal (originally launched in February 2003). In the first eight months, US$1.2-bn (R9.06-bn) of SA’s total exports were moved under the (Agoa) trade programme – compared to US$989-million (R7.47-bn) in the same period last year. That makes this country the third-largest sub-Saharan exporter to the US after Nigeria and Angola, with exports of US$19.7-bn (R148.7-bn) and US$7.4-bn (R55.9-bn) respectively over the eight months. But, it should be noted, the Agoa exports from these other two countries are almost exclusively crude oil – not the general and mostly manufactured goods in SA’s export programme.