Africa’s richest country sees farm exports to the US jump 26% before tariff hit.

South Africa’s agricultural exports to the United States climbed sharply in the second quarter, boosted by a strong harvest and rising global commodity prices.

Exports rose 26% to $161 million in the three months through June compared with a year earlier, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.

The bulk of the shipments to the US included citrus, wine, fruit juices, and nuts, Sihlobo said in a quarterly review released Monday. South Africa’s agricultural exports climbed 10% to $3.71 billion in the second quarter from a year earlier. A bumper harvest and stronger global commodity prices helped drive the gains, according to a Bloomberg report.

Exports to the United States rose particularly sharply, up 26% to $161 million, with citrus, wine, fruit juices, and nuts leading the shipments, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz).

But the boost may be short-lived. On Aug. 7, Washington imposed a 30% tariff on imports from Africa’s most industrialized economy, after trade talks with the Trump administration collapsed.

Source: Africabusinessinsider