South Africa: Growth of U.S. and South African Bilateral Trade in Tree Nuts

South Africa has been a net exporter of tree nuts since 2001. Post estimates that South African tree nut exports will increase by 9 percent to US$390 million in the 2018/19 Marketing Year (MY), and imports are expected to increase by 14 percent to US$90 million in the 2018/19 MY. South African and U.S. bilateral trade in tree nuts has surged from US$6 million in the 1996/97 MY, to an estimated US$110 million in the 2018/19 MY. This has been mainly driven by the growth in demand from consumers adopting healthier lifestyles and food choices, aided by the duty free access that both the United States and South Africa enjoy on tree nut trade. The United States is the largest exporter of tree nuts to South Africa and accounted for 22 percent of total South African tree nut imports in the 2017/18 MY, which is expected to continue in the 2018/19 MY. Almonds, walnuts and pistachios are the leading tree nut exports from the United States, and additional opportunities exist in the trade or licensing of new varieties and planting materials. 

South Africa: Growth of U.S. and South African Bilateral Trade in Tree Nuts