South Africa never restricted banana imports from Tanzania, despite recent claims made by Tanzanian agriculture minister Hussein Bashe, according to leading agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.
Bashe, politician from the Nzega district, ignited a brief trade spat when he alleged that South Africa, alongside Malawi, had for years limited banana imports from Tanzania. As a retaliatory measure, Tanzania temporarily banned South African agricultural imports on Wednesday, 23 April. The ban, however, was lifted just two days later, following diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
“But how accurate were Bashe”s claims from the start that South Africa restricts bananas from Tanzania?” Sihlobo asks.
After consulting South African authorities, Sihlobo notes that “the message from Dipepeneneng Serage, the deputy director-general for agricultural production, biosecurity, and natural resources management in South Africa’s department of dgriculture, is that Tanzania has never requested market access for its bananas in South Africa.”
“This is a vital step and a formal procedure for importing agricultural products. It is not just applied to Tanzania but to all countries,” Sihlobo adds.
The chief Agbiz economist explains that without a formal market access application, it would be impossible for Tanzanian bananas to be traded legally in South Africa. This bureaucratic process is standard and non-discriminatory. It, therefore, “partly explains why South Africa has not imported a notable volume of bananas from Tanzania in over two decades.”
Instead, South Africa’s banana imports are dominated by Mozambique, which accounts for 74% of the US$48 million worth of bananas imported annually.
“Trailing Mozambique is Eswatini, accounting for 19%. The Seychelles account for 4%, Zimbabwe accounts for 2%, and the remainder consists of small volumes from various countries in Southern Africa,” says Sihlobo.
Furthermore, Sihlobo questions whether Tanzanian bananas could even be competitive in South Africa’s market, considering the strong foothold that Mozambique and domestic production already maintain.
“Given the above, I believe Bashe has overreacted to all these banana issues. Temporarily blocking agricultural imports from South Africa was not a productive way of engagement and is not a substitute or shortcut for formal market access procedures,” he says.
Minor role in SA agricultural trade
Sihlobo also highlights concerns regarding the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Free Trade Area rules, stating: “Any ban on products from a particular country would need some scientific justification and be temporary. The current rationale is not satisfactory.”
On the potential damage to South Africa’s agriculture, Sihlobo offers reassurance: “Tanzania is a significant player in certain commodities, but it is not a major player in South Africa’s agricultural sector.”
He explains that of South Africa’s US$13.7 billion in agricultural exports, Tanzania accounted for approximately 1% (US$74.6 million). Meanwhile, in South Africa’s agricultural imports worth US$7.6 billion in 2024, Tanzania contributed just 0.4%, or about US$28 million.
“This minimal participation by Tanzania is understandable, as South Africa imports products not produced in large volumes in the region. These include wheat, rice, palm oil, poultry, and whiskies from the world market, all of which are not primarily produced by the African region,” he explains.
Interestingly, Sihlobo points out that South Africa is Tanzania’s 18th-largest agricultural market, accounting for 1.4% of its US$2.4 billion farm exports in 2023.
“It makes sense to promote its agricultural products and engage with South Africa’s department of agriculture on any scientific issues, rather than imposing restrictions on South African agricultural exports,” he advises.
He further notes that Tanzania’s main agricultural exports to South Africa include tobacco, tea, nuts, coffee, and ginger – not bananas. “Thus, initiating trade friction over a hold-up on a product that is not a significant export to a country may not be ideal.”
Sihlobo stresses that beyond this dispute, South Africa remains committed to strengthening regional agricultural trade and avoiding unnecessary restrictions.
“South Africa also promotes collaboration in agriculture and the sharing of knowledge to enhance regional value chains. This is the same approach South Africa shared with Botswana when the country temporarily restricted the imports of South African vegetables and fruits,” he recalls.
Ultimately, he attributes the spat to “inadequate communication and engagement rather than a deliberate attempt to restrict trade.”
“The appropriate course of action for Bashe’s officials is to engage with South African agricultural authorities. After this step, Tanzania will have to market the bananas in South Africa and find buyers,” he says.
“For now, I am glad this whole issue of the ban is off the table.”
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