Agricultural products remain the Western Cape’s dominant export commodity despite the challenges facing the sector, including the prevailing drought in the region. According to a trade and investment document released on Thursday, the top exports from the Western Cape in 2016 were refined petroleum oils, citrus fruit, wines, fresh apples, pears and quinces, as well as grapes. The top destination market for citrus fruit (R1.8bn) and grapes (R2.1bn) was the Netherlands, the EU distribution hub. The Western Cape produces more than 50% of SA’s agricultural exports, with the EU being one of the biggest export destinations. The region also accounts for almost 75% of annual offshore wine sales, worth R5bn. The document, complied by researchers at Wesgro, the Western Cape’s trade and investment agency, highlights that the province experienced an annual average export growth of 17.8% between 2012 and 2016. Exports from the province totalled R121bn in 2016, an increase of 3.8% from 2015. This...
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