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South Africa’s agricultural sector faces rising uncertainty as conflict in the Middle East threatens trade flows, yet the region remains too important to ignore. Despite mounting risks linked to higher shipping costs, supply chain disruptions and energy market volatility, the Middle East continues to play a strategic role in the country’s long-term export ambitions. According to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, the region has consistently accounted for about 8% of South Africa’s agricultural exports over the past five years. In 2025 alone, South Africa exported a record $15.1 billion worth of agricultural products globally, with roughly $1.3 billion destined for Middle Eastern markets. Key destinations include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar. These markets import a wide range of South African products, including citrus, apples, grapes, maize, beef and nuts—commodities where South Africa has strong ...