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EXPORT-LED GROWTH 2022 OUTLOOK
by WCDOA pubs
IIn 2020, the Western Cape Province exported R78.68 billion worth of combined agricultural and agri-processing products.
The 24% increase (2019: R63.23 billion vs 2020: R78.68 billion) confirms the critical role agriculture is playing in the economic recovery of the Western Cape.
The Western Cape agricultural sector is export-orientated and contributes 44% to national agricultural exports.
Eight of the ten biggest export products from the Western Cape have an agricultural foundation.
66%
66% of the value of Western Cape agricultural production gets exported.
50%
More than 50% of South Africa’s agricultural exports originate in the Western Cape.
22 951 jobs
For every 5% increase/ decrease in agricultural exports, 22 951 jobs are created/destroyed. Two-thirds are off-farm.
On average, the province contributes over 20% to national agricultural employment.
In 2020 primary agriculture accounted for 10% of the province’s employment and agri-processing 4%, which combined accounted for 14% of the employment.
Since 2010, employment in agri-processing has increased by an average of 1.1%. In the first quarter of 2020, 138 643 direct agri-processing jobs were in the Western Cape.
In 2020 the province’s primary agricultural exports accounted for 53% of national exports:
70%
Beverages
44%
Processed meat, fish, and fruit products
31%
Leather and related products
22%
Milk
Increased investment in agriprocessing activities can create more job opportunities and grow the economy. For this reason, the WCDoA’s Agricultural Economic Services Programme continues to provide support to agri-businesses.
