South African Businesses Eye Asian Market at China International Import Expo
Several South African companies participating in the China International Import Expo are optimistic about the potential opportunities to expand their exports to the Asian market.
In light of the recent presidential visit to China and the signing of new trade agreements, South African producers are positioned to benefit from these strengthened ties and introduce new products to the Chinese market, building on the already established exports of citrus, table grapes, wine, dairy, poultry, and red meat.
Robert Mafuna from Khozeni Farming Operations in Mpumalanga is hopeful that the exhibition will open new doors for his business, particularly given China’s growing demand for avocados.
Exploring New Opportunities
Mafuna’s company has recently partnered with Westfalia Fruits to launch the first-ever export of South African avocados to China for a test run. He explains that they were initially invited by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) as part of a business delegation to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting, which helped generate interest in potential export opportunities.
“From that platform, we garnered interest from China on export opportunities and from investors, as China seeks to strengthen relations with Africa and partner with us on our business ventures,” Mafuna said.
While his company currently exports avocados and macadamias to Europe, Mafuna is eager to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. He believes that China’s growing focus on health and wellness products presents a significant opportunity for South African businesses in agriculture and agro-processing.
“We see China as a critical enabler in helping us break into the region. This expo is crucial in providing us with exposure and valuable connections that will help us achieve our goals,” Mafuna added.
The DTIC has partially funded 35 South African companies to participate in the expo, which runs from November 5 to 10, 2024.
Penetrating Global Markets
Wendy Mpendulo of Miante Manufacturing, an agro-processing company specializing in nut products, sees the expo as an opportunity to bring the full range of African produce to the Chinese market.
“I source and add value to various ground and tree nuts, offering a diverse and exciting range of flavors. My goal here is to attract investors, partners, and distributors from China,” she said.
South Africa’s Consulate General in Shanghai, Phuti Tsipa, emphasized the need for continued investment to ensure more value-added South African products are exported to global markets.
“We hope that by the end of this exhibition, we’ll see successful match-making outcomes and positive engagement from participating companies,” Tsipa said. “We want to see more South African businesses breaking into critical global markets, growing their businesses, and contributing to job creation and economic growth.”
Strengthening Trade Relations
Tsipa also highlighted South Africa’s commitment to deepening cooperation with China, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure development, new energy, and tourism.
According to the DTIC, South Africa, as a leading agricultural producer in Africa, has increasingly turned to China as a key export market. In turn, China views South Africa as an important source for agricultural products, making the expo an important platform for both countries to expand and enhance trade ties.
