South Africa: Exporter Guide

South Africa continues to be an important market for U.S. agricultural products. The country is an attractive business destination due to its growing market and a well-developed infrastructure, catering to efficient distribution of both imported and locally produced agricultural products to major urban centers and the entire Southern Africa region. Although the commercial agricultural sector in South Africa is highly diversified and is self-sufficient in most primary foods (with the exceptions of wheat, rice, chicken, and oilseeds), the country continues to offer opportunities for imports from the United States. South Africa consumers' willingness to try new products and a growing demand for imported products due to changes in health-conscious eating and drinking habits has created opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports in niche food and beverage categories, but American exporters face competition from domestic suppliers and countries that have preferential trade relationships with South Africa.