Western Cape export surge

Continuing a consistent

upward trend over the past few

years, Western Cape exports

registered a 3.8% increase,

totalling R121 billion in 2016,

according to Wesgro CEO Tim

Harris.

Speaking at the launch

last week of the agency’s

latest trade and investment

document, The Western Cape:

Africa’s Trade and Investment

Springboard, he attributed

the growth largely to the

depreciating rand and an

increase in competitiveness

from Cape exporters.

“One of the most significant

findings in the report is

that the Western Cape has

experienced an annual average

export growth of 17.8% from

2012-2016,” he said. “Import

growth of 7.67% was achieved

during the same period.”

According to Harris,

export growth of 25% to

the Americas in 2016, 15%

to Oceana and 10% to Asia

played an important role in

the growth story.