Steenhuisen secures important fruit trade deal with China

South Africa has secured a landmark phytosanitary trade protocol with China, granting unprecedented access for its stone fruits (apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes) to the world’s second-largest economy.

Announced in mid-October 2025, the agreement marks the first time China has approved multiple stone fruit varieties from a single country under one unified protocol. This deal, hailed as a “major breakthrough” by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, is poised to bolster South Africa’s agriculture sector, particularly in the Western Cape, where fruit production underpins thousands of jobs.

The Western Cape, which accounts for roughly 50% of national fruit production, is the epicentre of this industry. Deciduous fruits, encompassing pome varieties like apples (28% of national deciduous output) and pears (15%), as well as stone fruits (around 25% of deciduous) are almost entirely grown here, with the province producing over 90% of South Africa’s total for these categories. Citrus, by contrast, sees the Western Cape contributing about 20–25% of the national volume, trailing the Eastern Cape’s dominance.

Agriculture as a whole drives approximately 4–6% of the provincial GDP and sustains over 200,000 direct jobs, representing 10–12% of total employment. Within the Western Cape’s agricultural economy, deciduous and stone fruits command a substantial share, contributing around 40% of output value through their export focus, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to and reliance on global trade dynamics.

Amid rising U.S. tariffs on South African plums, the deal offers a potential lifeline for the sector, diversifying export markets and tapping into China’s growing demand for premium, off-season produce. The agreement is expected to yield 400 million rand ($22 million) in export value over the next five years, potentially doubling to 800 million rand in a decade as volumes scale. Initial shipments, set to begin in the 2025/26 season, are projected to generate 28 million rand, rising to 54 million rand in 2026/27. The deal could create 350–600 direct jobs over ten years, with additional roles in logistics and processing.

Jannie Strydom, chief executive of Agri Western Cape, described it as a critical step for market diversification, alleviating pressure from traditional buyers like the European Union, which absorbs 27% of South Africa’s fruit exports. Wandile Sihlobo, an agricultural economist, underscored China’s allure as a “big market” for further expansion. This protocol builds on deepening agricultural ties between Pretoria and Beijing. Recent years have seen South Africa secure access for avocados, dairy, wool, beef, and corn, with bilateral agri-trade reaching $10 billion annually.

The stone fruit deal offsets the impact of U.S. tariffs, imposed in 2025 at 10–20% on plums, threatening 15% of that crop’s exports, while aligning with South Africa’s strategic pivot toward high-growth Eastern markets under the Democratic Alliance-led Agriculture Ministry. However, challenges remain, including compliance with China’s stringent phytosanitary standards and logistical bottlenecks at ports like Cape Town.

South Africa’s fruit trade has evolved significantly over the past half-century. In the 1970 table grapes, and subtropicals like avocados. Total exports have surged from 450,000 tons annually in the 1970s to 4.17 million tons in 2023, valued at $4.35 billion. Historically, Western markets dominated, commanding 70–80% of exports in the 1970s and 1980s due to colonial ties and EU trade agreements. Their share has since fallen to 36% by 2023, driven by stricter EU regulations and competition from Latin American producers.

Eastern markets, including Asia and the Middle East, have grown from under 5% in the 1990s to 28% today, fueled by protocols like the 2023 avocado deal with China and surging demand in India and Vietnam. Intra-African trade, bolstered by the African Continental Free Trade Area, accounts for 36% of exports, with steady 2% annual growth over the past decade. Citrus leads by volume (60%), followed by deciduous fruits (25%), table grapes (10%), and subtropicals (5%).

Projections suggest exports could reach 5 million tons by 2030, with Eastern markets potentially overtaking Western ones, though port inefficiencies will continue to hinder progress. While many may lament Steenhuisen’s domestic policies, trade negotiation has managed to proceed at an agreeable pace, and may save a number of farmers from an ignominious decline.