The Western Cape government is seeking to add 1,000 active exporters and shift more trade towards the European Union as the province’s sales to the United States fall sharply under tariffs and strained diplomatic relations.
The target forms part of the Western Cape Export Strategy 2035, led by the provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism with trade and investment agency Wesgro. The strategy aims to triple the province’s goods exports from R136 billion in 2020 to R408 billion by 2035, create more than 200,000 jobs and identify ten new export product opportunities.
Exports to the US have dropped steeply. Figures from the Premier’s Office show Western Cape merchandise exports to the US fell 41% to R10.02 billion in the 12 months to July 2026, from R16.89 billion a year earlier, a loss of nearly R7 billion. Fruit juice, grapes, wine, yachts and citrus were among the hardest-hit products.
Western Cape Exports to the United States
| Period | Value | Change |
| Calendar 2024 | R17.31bn | |
| Calendar 2025 | R14.51bn | -16.2% |
| 12 months to July 2025 | R16.89bn | |
| 12 months to July 2026 | R10.02bn | -41% |
| US rank among province’s markets | Fell from 2nd to 4th |
Sources: Western Cape Premier’s Office, Exporters Western Cape
For calendar 2025, exports to the US fell 16.2% to R14.51 billion from R17.31 billion, according to Exporters Western Cape. The US has dropped from the province’s second-largest to fourth-largest export market. Despite this, total Western Cape exports to all markets rose 5.4% over the latest 12-month period, with European countries largely filling the gap.
The province is now positioning its exporters to meet tightening European Union requirements on carbon emissions, aiming to have more export products made with renewable energy. Europe’s carbon border adjustment mechanism and sustainability rules are expected to favour suppliers that can show lower-carbon production.
Exporters have warned that new markets cannot replace the US quickly. Exporters Western Cape chairman Terry Gale said businesses spend years building customer relationships in the US and that once buyers switch suppliers, the business is hard to win back. He called for intervention at the highest level to halt the deterioration in relations between Pretoria and Washington.
Relations have soured over disagreements on land reform and black economic empowerment policy, with Washington announcing targeted visa restrictions in September. South African goods have faced US tariffs of up to 30% since 2025, and the future of preferential access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act remains uncertain.
Wesgro has also been promoting exports to China, Southeast Asia, India, Brazil and the Middle East, while maintaining its focus on Africa, the UK and the EU. In 2025, the Western Cape accounted for more than half of South Africa’s agricultural and agro-processed exports to the US, as well as a large share of national exports of seafood, yachts, jewellery and beauty products.
Provincial officials and industry bodies have lobbied the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and US importers for tariff relief for the most vulnerable sectors, including boatbuilding and citrus.