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agri business sector south africa

The Agri-Business Sector in South Africa 2025

Michael Felton | South Africa | 31 January 2025

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Report Coverage

This report on the agribusiness sector in South Africa largely focuses on primary agricultural activities of cultivating crops (grains and cereals), horticulture (fruit and vegetables) and rearing livestock, including initial processing of raw materials. The report includes comprehensive information on agricultural land, the number of farms and agricultural households, area of crops planted, numbers of livestock, production, income, capital investment and employment. There is also information on notable companies, corporate actions, trade, and influencing factors such as external and unforeseen events, and technology and innovation. The report includes profiles of 139 companies including AFGRI, BKB, RCL Foods, Astral and Senwes.

Introduction

• The agricultural sector accounted for 2.5% of South Africa’s GDP in 2023.
• Gross farming revenue increased marginally in the year to end-June 2024, while overall farming production declined by 5%.
• Approximately 10 million hectares or more than 80% of arable land is planted annually.
• There are nearly 230 million livestock, with poultry accounting for more than 70%.
• Current trends include growth in agritech and precision farming, expansion of export markets and adaptation to climate-smart technology and methods.
• Major challenges are deficient infrastructure, climate change and water scarcity.

Trends

• Climate-smart agriculture and climate change adaptation.
• Digital transformation.
• Diversification and expansion of farmers into agro-processing.
• Effort to expand exports of high-value crops.
• Expansion of organic farming methods.
• Growth in urban and vertical farming.
• Increased focus on sustainable farming practices.
• Land reform.
• Shift toward agritech and precision farming.

Opportunities

• Agri-tourism/farm-to-table initiatives.
• Agritech and innovation.
• Agro-processing and value addition.
• Biotechnology and improved inputs.
• Commercial farmers partnerships.
• Demand for sustainably/ethically-produced food.
• Export growth.
• Investment in rural infrastructure.
• Non-traditional crop diversification.
• Organic/free-range/speciality niche markets.
• Renewable energy integration.
• Skills training.
• Small farmer support.
• Sustainable and organic farming.
• Urban and vertical farming.

Challenges

•  Limited access to financing.
• Barriers to technological adoption.
• Biosecurity threats.
• Climate change and environment risk.
• Competition from imports.
• Complex and inconsistent policies and regulatory challenges.
• Crime and security.
• Declining soil quality/increasing soil degradation.
• Difficulty accessing markets.
• Energy shortages and high costs.
• Fluctuating commodity prices and trade barriers.
• High input costs.
• Infrastructure deficiencies and limited infrastructure investment.
• Labour skills shortages and disputes.
• Land reform policy uncertainty.
• Water scarcity.

Outlook

• The outlook remains uncertain given unpredictable and severe weather patterns, market risks and barriers, biodiversity challenges, infrastructure and logistics deficiencies and an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.
• Agribusiness confidence has recovered but concern about business conditions remains.
• The decline of public services is the single biggest risk to agribusiness.
• Consumer spending was expected to remain muted and affect demand for products.
• Field crop revenue has declined in real terms due to weather factors and lower prices worldwide, coupled with higher input costs.
• Input costs for farmers have increased faster than commodity prices and above consumer price inflation levels historically, and only marginal improvements are expected from 2025 onwards.

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The Agri-Business Sector in South Africa
The Agri-Business Sector in South Africa 2025

Full Report

R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1077.28 (USD)*

Industry Landscape

R 14 000.00(ZAR) estimated $ 754.09 (USD)*

Table of Contents

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PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
2.1. Industry Value Chain 4
2.2. Geographic Position 5
2.3. Size of the Industry 12
3. LOCAL 22
3.1. State of the Industry 22
3.2. Key Trends 30
3.3. Key Issues 30
3.4. Notable Players 31
3.5. Trade 34
3.6. Corporate Actions 41
3.7. Regulations 44
3.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 45
4. AFRICA 48
5. INTERNATIONAL 54
6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 60
6.1. Unforeseen Events 60
6.2. Economic Environment 62
6.3. Labour 63
6.4. Environmental Issues 66
6.5. Crime 67
6.6. Technology, R&D and Innovation 68
6.7. Government Support 69
6.8. Input Cost 71
7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 72
7.1. Competition 72
7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 73
7.3. Barriers to Entry 74
8. INDUSTRY SUMMARY 75
9. OUTLOOK 76
10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 77
11. REFERENCES 78
11.1. Publications 78
11.2. Websites 79
ANNEXURE 1 82
Industry Legislation and Regulations 82
APPENDIX 1 97
Summary of Notable Players 97
APPENDIX 2 111
Related Industry Reports 111
COMPANY PROFILES 113
A J PRODUCTS (NATAL) CC 113
A J PRODUCTS (WESTERN CAPE) CC 115
AFGRI AGRI SERVICES (PTY) LTD 117
AFRESH BRANDS CAPE (PTY) LTD 121
AFRESH BRANDS KZN (PTY) LTD 123
AFRICA SUN OIL REFINERIES (PTY) LTD 125
AFRIMAT HEMP (PTY) LTD 127
AGRIMARK OPERATIONS LTD 129
AGULHAS HONEYBUSH TEA CC 132
ALGOA ROLLER MILLS CC 134
ALZU ONDERNEMINGS (PTY) LTD 136
AMANAH OIL CC 138
ASSAGAY COFFEE CC 140
ASTRAL OPERATIONS LTD 142
BAKHRESA SA (PTY) LTD 145
BEAN THERE COFFEE COMPANY (PTY) LTD 147
BIDVEST SERVICES (PTY) LTD 149
BKB LTD 152
BLINKWATER MEULE (PTY) LTD 157
BRANDS TREE FELLING (PTY) LTD 159
BRENNER BRANDS (PTY) LTD 160
BREWKOMBUCHA (PTY) LTD 162
BURGESS LANDSCAPES CC 163
CACO SERVICES (PTY) LTD 165
CAPE NATURAL TEA PRODUCTS (PTY) LTD 167
CARMIEN TEA (PTY) LTD 169
CAROLINA ROLLER MEULE (PTY) LTD 171
CHAMP\'S CHOICE FEEDS (PTY) LTD 173
CHEMFIT FINE CHEMICALS (PTY) LTD 175
CLIPPER COFFEE AND TEA CC 177
CLOVER S A (PTY) LTD 178
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE (PTY) LTD 183
COLOMBO BREW CO (PTY) LTD 185
CREDE OILS (PTY) LTD 186
CROOKES BROTHERS LTD 188
CROWN CHICKENS (PTY) LTD 192
D H BROTHERS INDUSTRIES (PTY) LTD 194
DAG WILLEMS TREE SURGERY AND FORESTRY (PTY) LTD 196
DARLING OLIVES (PTY) LTD 198
DE RUSTICA ESTATES (PTY) LTD 200
DISTINCTIVE CHOICE 1518 CC 202
DRY BEAN PRODUCERS\' ORGANISATION 203
ELANGENI OIL (PTY) LTD 205
EPIC FOODS (PTY) LTD 206
EPKO OIL SEED CRUSHING (PTY) LTD 209
EVERGREEN TURF (PTY) LTD 211
FAMOUS BRANDS COFFEE COMPANY (PTY) LTD 213
FASTFELL CC 215
FREE STATE OIL (PTY) LTD 216
FRENCH VALLEY MARKETING (PTY) LTD 218
FSG LANDSCAPING GROUP (PTY) LTD 220
GIDEON MILLING (PTY) LTD 222
GLEDHOW SUGAR COMPANY (PTY) LTD 224
GLOBAL COFFEE EXPORTS (PTY) LTD 226
GODRICH FLOUR MILLS (PTY) LTD 228
GRAIN FIELD CHICKENS (PTY) LTD 230
GRAIN SOUTH AFRICA 232
GREEN EARTH LANDSCAPES (PTY) LTD 234
GREENACRES LANDSCAPES (PTY) LTD 235
GRIEKWALAND WES KORPORATIEF LTD 236
GROWING BUSINESS CC (THE) 241
HAPPY CULTURE KOMBUCHA (PTY) LTD 242
HEIMO SCHULZER GARDENS (PTY) LTD 243
HEMPORIUM (PTY) LTD 245
HONEY BUSH PROCESSING (PTY) LTD 247
HONEYBUSH NATURAL PRODUCTS (PTY) LTD 248
I L MOLINO (PTY) LTD 249
IDUBE LANDSCAPING (PTY) LTD 251
ILLOVO SUGAR AFRICA (PTY) LTD 253
INGRAIN SA (PTY) LTD 256
J PANTON-JONES 258
JOEKELS TEA PACKERS (PTY) LTD 259
KEITH KIRSTEN HORTICULTURE INTERNATIONAL (PTY) LTD 261
L C PACKAGING (S A) (PTY) LTD 263
LACTALIS SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 264
LADISMITH CHEESE COMPANY (PTY) LTD 267
LAPITHOS OLIVE GROWERS 269
LEITCH LANDSCAPES (NATAL) (PTY) LTD 270
LEON DU PLESSIS ARBORCARE CC 271
LIFE GREEN GROUP (PTY) LTD 272
MAJESTY OIL MILLS (PTY) LTD 274
MARLTONS PET CARE (PTY) LTD 276
MARS CONSUMER PRODUCTS AFRICA (PTY) LTD 278
MARTIN AND MARTIN (PTY) LTD 280
MASTERTONS COFFEE AND TEA SPECIALISTS (PTY) LTD 282
MELMONT HONEYBUSH TEA CC 284
MONTEGO PET NUTRITION (PTY) LTD 285
NATIONAL BRANDS LTD 287
NESTLE (SOUTH AFRICA) (PTY) LTD 289
NUTRI FEEDS (PTY) LTD 292
NWK LTD 295
OCEANA GROUP LTD 299
OOS VRYSTAAT KAAP BEDRYF LTD 305
OVER THE GARDEN WALL CC 311
OVERBERG AGRI BEDRYWE (PTY) LTD 312
PANDA OUTDOOR SERVICES (PTY) LTD 315
PC COETSEE 317
PEACOCK TEA AND COFFEE (PTY) LTD 319
PENINSULA LANDSCAPING CC 321
PHILAFRICA FOODS (PTY) LTD 322
PIONEER VOEDSEL (PTY) LTD 325
PREMIER FMCG (PTY) LTD 330
PRIDE MILLING COMPANY (PTY) LTD 336
PROMEAL (PTY) LTD 338
QUANTUM FOODS (PTY) LTD 340
RCL FOODS LTD 344
RCL FOODS SUGAR AND MILLING (PTY) LTD 349
ROOIBOS LTD 353
ROTHE PLANTSCAPERS (PTY) LTD 355
ROYAL CANIN SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 357
SABIE VALLEY COFFEE CC 359
SANPEACE (PTY) LTD 361
SD GUTHRIE INTERNATIONAL SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 363
SEA LAKE INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD 365
SENTRAAL-SUID KOOPERASIE BEPERK 367
SENWES LTD 371
SERVEST (PTY) LTD 383
SILOSTRAT (PTY) LTD 387
SIQALO FOODS (PTY) LTD 389
SMITH ANIMAL FEEDS CC 391
SODEXO SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD 393
SOUTH AFRICAN BREWERIES MALTINGS (PTY) LTD (THE) 395
SOUTH AFRICAN CANE GROWERS ASSOCIATION NPC 396
SOUTHERN OIL (PTY) LTD 399
STANDERTON OIL MILLS (PTY) LTD 402
SUNOLA OIL MILLS (PTY) LTD 404
TEA AND COFFEE DISTRIBUTORS (EASTERN PROVINCE) (PTY) LTD 406
THEONISTA (PTY) LTD 407
TIGER BRANDS LTD 408
TONGAAT HULETT LTD 413
TOPFELL CC 418
TSEBO SOLUTIONS GROUP (PTY) LTD 420
TSWELLAPELE PLANTS CC 423
TWK AGRI (PTY) LTD 424
U C L COMPANY (PTY) LTD 429
UMFOLOZI SUGAR MILL (PTY) LTD 432
UNILEVER SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 434
UNION HAND ROASTED (PTY) LTD 437
URBAN FOREST RECYCLING CC 438
VAAL MILLING COMPANY (PTY) LTD 439
VEST-ACTIV FOUR (PTY) LTD 441
VIDA E CAFFE HOLDINGS (PTY) LTD 442
VITACANN PHARM (PTY) LTD 446
VKB BELEGGINGS (PTY) LTD 447
VKB MILLING (PTY) LTD 450
VOERMOL FEEDS (PTY) LTD 452
VULA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (PTY) LTD 454
WILMAR SA (PTY) LTD 456