South African food and agricultural exporters are increasingly pivoting toward China and other BRICS markets to expand sales and diversify their international footprint amid evolving global trade dynamics, with companies in the Coega Special Economic Zone leading the charge.
DC Foods, a leading food manufacturer specialising in frozen fruit and sorbet products, says it is finalising regulatory procedures to launch its produce into the Chinese market after approximately a year of compliance work.
“We’ve been working for about a year now to comply with all regulatory requirements. We’re almost there and hope to enter the Chinese market soon,” DC Foods Operations Manager Murray Price told reporters during a media tour of the Coega SEZ on Tuesday.
ZERO-TARIFF SCHEME DRIVES PORT GROWTH
The pivot comes as China’s non-reciprocal zero-tariff preference scheme, which took effect on 1 May 2026, begins to deliver tangible results. The two-year framework provides duty-free access for eligible exports from South Africa and 19 other non-least developed African countries through April 2028.
Xola Mkontwana, business strategy manager at the Port of Ngqura, said the port has recorded “exponential growth” in commodity throughput destined for the Chinese market since the policy was implemented.
“The zero-tariff has assisted the throughput for bulk across the port system because there’s chrome and magnetite, iron ore, and also corn,” Mkontwana said.
The Port of Ngqura, South Africa’s newest deep-water commercial port located approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Gqeberha, serves as a critical maritime gateway connecting Eastern Cape minerals, agricultural produce, and automotive manufacturing to global shipping lines .
HEDGING AGAINST TRADE FRICTION
For DC Foods, the strategic turn toward China and other BRICS partners reflects a growing need among South African producers to mitigate risks in traditional export destinations.
Price explained that while DC Foods initially grew by exporting to North America under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), changing trade policies and rising tariffs have squeezed profit margins.
“While maintaining a presence in traditional markets remains important, expanding into China and the broader BRICS network provides the long-term stability and growth we need,” Price said.
The expansion plans highlight the tangible link between international trade diversification and local job creation. Over the past two years, DC Foods has created approximately 1,500 local jobs in Eastern Cape Province.
BROADER DEMAND FROM BRICS NATIONS
Russell Stead, general manager of local fruit exporter Coegapack, said robust demand from China, India, and Russia will be instrumental in absorbing South Africa’s increasing agricultural output.
“As our industry grows, we can export more fruit to these countries,” Stead said, stressing that bilateral trade frameworks are critical to sustaining the development of South Africa’s agricultural sector.
Stead noted that while it is early to quantify the immediate impact on Coegapack’s export volume, preferential tariff terms offer a major long-term structural advantage. “I’m sure there will be a huge positive impact as our shipments grow into those regions”.
STRATEGIC LOCATION ADVANTAGE
Both companies noted that their export ambitions are heavily anchored by the strategic location of the Coega SEZ, which directly adjoins the deep-water Port of Ngqura. The proximity to major agricultural production hubs and modern port infrastructure offers critical logistical efficiency for sea-bound shipments to Asia .
The zero-tariff policy fulfils commitments made under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework to promote balanced bilateral trade and support industrialisation across the African continent. China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade hitting a record $348 billion in 2025.