China looks to South African food exports as way of reducing reliance on US and Australia

The country is already a major supplier of metals and minerals, but now its agricultural sector could benefit from strong demand in China

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South African wine makers are hoping for more sales in the Chinese market. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:00pm, 16 Jul 2024

For decades, South Africa has been China’s top source for metals such as gold, diamonds and platinum but now Beijing is opening up to more agricultural exports as it moves to reduce its dependency on countries such as the United States and Australia.

The newly appointed Chinese ambassador, Wu Peng, told local media that Beijing was implementing measures to fast-track food exports

“This year, we are working hard with the South African side towards signing export protocols for yet more South African goods, including wool, dairy products, pet food, and wild aquatic products,” Wu told IOL News.

“The Chinese government is committed to advancing high-level opening-up. We are ready to share our mega-sized market with all countries, including South Africa.”

South Africa has been China’s largest trading partner in Africa for 14 consecutive years, and in the first half of this year, the value of that trade hit US$27.5 billion, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.

In the same period, imports from South Africa rose by 10.7 per cent to US$17.29 billion year on year, but Chinese exports to the African nation dropped by 18.6 per cent in that period to US$10.2 billion.