ADVERTISING SALES External sales: Dale Macnamara sales @ interactmedia. co. za

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Ralph Shongwe | ralph @ interactmedia. co. za

SUB-EDITOR: Megan O ' Connor megan @ interactmedia. co. za

DESIGN AND LAYOUT: Ruan Coetzee ruan @ interactmedia. co. za

PROCESS CO-ORDINATOR: Royce Headger royce @ interactmedia. co. za

MANAGEMENT Finance / operations: Sean Macnamara sean @ interactmedia. co. za Finance: Laetitia Arnott | laetitia @ interactmedia. co. za

PRINTING: TYPO

DISTRIBUTION: distribution @ interactmedia. co. za

CIRCULATION: Jan- Mar 2026 Print: 2 429 | Online: 1 411 | Total: 3 840

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PRINTING: All paper is sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council and Chain of Custody-certified suppliers. All wastepaper from the plant is recycled. All used plates are recycled. All new printing equipment is purchased for low energy-consumption levels and low volatile organic-compound emissions.

DISCLAIMER: While every reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given, neither the editor, publisher, proprietor, staff, nor any official body represented or published in this issue, will accept responsibility for any damages, loss, injuries, or false claims that may arise or be made in the content. Including but not limited to any references to gender, religion, politics, ethnicity, or personal preferences of any editorial contribution whether an industry expert, advertiser through sponsored or paid content or contract writer. We subscribe to the Code of Conduct of the Advertising Regulatory Board( info @ arb. co. za) and the Press Ombudsman( see below). Disclaimers by individual companies are hereby overridden by this disclaimer.

For exporters of temperature-sensitive products such as citrus, deciduous fruit, berries, avocados, wine and fruit juices, efficient cold chain management is becoming increasingly important as overseas markets demand stricter quality assurance, faster delivery times and improved traceability. Industry analysts warn that infrastructure inefficiencies, port congestion and transport delays could erode South Africa’ s competitive position if the cold chain is not strengthened alongside efforts to diversify export markets.

Against this backdrop, South Africa’ s presidential envoy on agriculture and land and chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo, has cautioned that the country faces growing competition in its key European Union market as the EU moves closer to finalising a major trade agreement with Mercosur countries.

Writing in his blog, Sihlobo said the deal, which has been under negotiation for some time, would remove tariffs on around 90 % of trade in goods between the two blocs, phased in over roughly 12 years. Agricultural exports from Mercosur would enter under gradually rising quotas.

The trading bloc comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. Venezuela was suspended from the bloc in 2016 because of concerns about trade and

human rights, although discussions regarding its return are expected in the coming weeks.

Sihlobo said the development was significant because the EU accounted for nearly 20 % of South Africa’ s agricultural exports.

“ Growing competition from South America in the EU market is something we must watch closely following this deal,” he said.

South Africa’ s agricultural exports to the EU are predominantly high-value products.“ For example, citrus, fruit juices, wine, dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, mangoes, nuts, apples and pears, berries, cut flowers and wool are among the primary agricultural products South Africa exports to the EU,” Sihlobo said.

For many of these export categories, cold chain integrity is central to maintaining shelf life, meeting phytosanitary standards and ensuring products arrive in export markets in premium condition. Delays at ports, disruptions in refrigerated transport and inadequate storage capacity can significantly reduce export quality and market value, particularly for highly perishable produce.

In contrast, exports from key Mercosur countries such as Brazil and Argentina centre mainly on grains, oilseeds and beef. While the immediate overlap may be limited, Sihlobo cautioned that broader competitive pressures were likely to increase.“ The issue of generally increased competition, even if not at the initial stages, underscores the point I have made before that South Africa must consistently seek new export markets for its agricultural exports,” he said.

South Africa already exports about half of its agricultural produce, valued at USD13-billion in 2023, with expectations of rising domestic production in the coming

years. Additional production capacity will require expanded market access beyond traditional destinations.

For the cold chain sector, this could translate into growing demand for export packhouses, refrigerated warehousing, port-side cold storage, reefer container handling and temperature-monitoring technologies as producers seek to maintain competitiveness across longer and more diversified trade routes.

Sihlobo emphasised that diversification did not mean abandoning existing partners.“ The new markets are not meant to replace the EU and other existing markets; they should be a means of diversification.”

He pointed to BRICS countries as a priority area for deeper trade ties.“ The original BRICS members only account for 8 % of South Africa’ s agricultural exports. Yet, the BRICS countries are big agricultural importers.”

Key barriers to expanded BRICS trade include higher import tariffs and phytosanitary requirements.“ It is important to address these challenges while maintaining strong relations with current markets. These regions are crucial to South Africa’ s agriculture, and the country must nurture its relations with them and agricultural trade,” Sihlobo said.

The push for diversification comes against a backdrop of rising protectionism in traditional markets. This includes recent EU farm protests, which highlighted concerns over imports, as well as ongoing trade disputes such as the citrus matter between South Africa and the EU, which is currently before the World Trade Organization. CLA

COPYRIGHT: Reproduction of any of the content and photographs is expressly forbidden in terms of the Copyright Act of 1987 with all amendments. All requests to reproduce must be made in writing to the publisher and such confirmation must be given in writing before proceeding. A copy of where the reproduction was published must be supplied to the publisher at the above address. All publication and exhibition titles are registered as trademarks in terms of the Trademarks Act of 1993 and are held by Interact Media Defined( Pty) Ltd, Reg No 2014 / 092774 / 07.

PRESS OMBUDSMAN: This publication has committed itself to maintain the highest standards of journalism as embodied in the Press Code of Professional Practice. If you believe we have failed to report news and comment accurately, honestly and fairly, you may lodge a complaint with the Press Ombudsman either by email, letter, or by telephoning the office for the procedure to be followed. Tel: + 27( 0) 11 484 3612 / 8. Email: enquiries @ ombudsman. org. za Website: www. presscouncil. org. za for the press code and / or the complaints form.

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION