South Africa is strengthening its trade relations with India, targeting the vast Indian market as a prime destination for its fresh produce exports. This initiative was highlighted in a recent webinar hosted by the department of trade, industry and competition (DTIC).
Solomon Engelbrecht, export business development manager at the DTIC, spoke about the strategic importance of India as a trading partner given its substantial consumer base of over one billion people.
“We have identified India as one of the key markets that South Africa is actively engaging with, leveraging existing bilateral trade agreements.”
Engelbrecht emphasised the importance of taking advantage of seasonal differences between the two countries. “When the climate in India does not favour certain crops, it becomes an opportunity for South African exporters to step in and meet demand,” he explained.
Fhulumani Ratshitanga, CEO of Fruit SA explained that the South African fruit sector operates under the umbrella of Fruit South Africa, which represents key industry associations. These include the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa, Berry South Africa, the South African Subtropical Growers Association, Hortgro (which represents the pome and stone fruit industries), and the South African Table Grape Industry.
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India’s strategic importance as a trading partner
“Our competitors in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Chile and Peru, have trade agreements that provide them with better access and lower tariffs, giving them a competitive advantage.
“We are actively working to improve market access, but without favourable trade agreements, our produce remains less competitive compared to other suppliers,” Ratshitanga said.
Ravi Issar, an adviser at the South African High Commission, emphasised India’s rapid economic growth and the increasing demand for high-quality fresh produce. Issar highlighted the growing Indian middle class, which currently stands at approximately 400 million people, with increasing disposable income and a preference for healthy eating.
Strong demand for SA produce
“We have already seen strong demand for South African pears, which are highly sought after in India. Additionally, products like avocados, though relatively new in the market, are quickly gaining popularity,” he said.
Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) said they are delighted to announce the arrival of the first shipment of South African lemons in India for the season.
“This shipment signifies the strong trade relationship between South Africa and India. It starts the season, and hopefully also starts an era of increased exports and opportunities for our two countries,” he said.
Ntshabele pointed out that citrus exports to India have increased significantly. Since 2020, citrus exports have almost tripled to 30 000 tonnes. But he also mentioned an obstacle to further growth.
“A steep citrus import tariff of 30% keeps South African growers and the citrus-loving Indian consumer from benefiting even more,” Ntshabele said.
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