South African agricultural exports see growth in stone fruit and pecans

South Africa’s agricultural export sectors are seeing significant growth in stone fruit and pecan production. According to Hortgro, the stone fruit industry reached a turnover of approximately $308 million in 2025, a 12 percent year-on-year increase. Plums led the sector with a 22 percent rise in value to $143 million, while nectarines saw the strongest export growth at 19 percent.

In the pecan sector, the harvest is estimated to reach 56,000 tons for the 2025/26 marketing year, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. This growth is driven by favorable weather and irrigation. In-shell pecan exports to China are forecast to rise by 35 percent, supported by China’s decision to reduce tariffs on imports from African countries from 7 percent to zero starting May 1, 2026. This shift follows China's imposition of anti-dumping duties on pecans from the United States and Mexico.