Zimbabwe accounted for 8 per cent of South Africa’s total fruit and vegetable exports in 2025, making it one of the country’s major agricultural markets.
South Africa exported agricultural products worth US$1.2 billion to Zimbabwe last year, a value comparable to its shipments to the Middle East and BRICS countries.
The Netherlands remained South Africa’s largest agricultural export destination, accounting for between 36 and 40 per cent of exports. However, the country also serves as a distribution hub for South African agricultural products destined for other European Union markets.
Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said Zimbabwe could be South Africa’s largest agricultural export market when individual end destinations are considered.
South African agricultural exports to Zimbabwe were dominated by preserved vegetables and fruit juices, while other international markets received products such as fresh fruit and nuts.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, exported US$1.6 billion worth of agricultural products globally in 2025. South Africa was its second-largest agricultural export market after China, accounting for 12 per cent of Zimbabwe’s agricultural exports, valued at US$202 million.
Zimbabwe’s agricultural exports to South Africa represented 2.6 per cent of South Africa’s total agricultural imports of US$7.8 billion during the year.
The two countries are also exploring opportunities to strengthen agricultural trade and develop regional value chains.
At the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission Business Forum held on August 21, 2026, discussions focused on expanding trade in agricultural products, seeds, machinery, agricultural technologies and agro-processing.
Sihlobo said deeper regional value chains could create opportunities for South Africa to increase imports of selected agricultural products from Zimbabwe while maintaining strong exports to the neighbouring country.