Browse Data and Analysis

South Africa boasts one of Africa's most developed and diverse economies, supported by a robust commercial sector and sophisticated distribution networks.

Poland is Central and Eastern Europe’s largest market for food and beverage products. With a population of 38 million people, Poland is a growing market for U.S. food and agricultural products.

In 2024, Southern Africa faced a severe drought, leading to a significant decline in corn and soybean production, which caused rising food inflation and economic challenges.

For year 2025, FAS Warsaw forecasts Poland’s total cherry production at 115,000 metric tons (MT), consisting of 80,000 sour cherries and 35,000 of sweet cherries.

The FAIRS Annual Country Report provides a comprehensive summary of the rules and regulations governing the import of food and agricultural products to South Africa.

This report has been updated to include the latest information relevant to exporting to South Africa. The Food and Agricultural Import Regulation and Standards (FAIRS) Certificate Report provides a comprehensive list of the main certificates required for exporting plants, animals, and animal products to South Africa.

The South African Department of Agriculture (DoA) reported several new positive cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle in the KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces in April 2025. Following the announcement of the FMD outbreak, China suspended imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from South Africa.

Poland is the largest EU poultry meat producer, accounting for 21 percent of total EU production. Despite expectations for rising poultry production in 2025 due to growing demand and lower production costs, the spread of animal diseases throughout the country in March and April 2025 have begun to weigh on Polish production.

FAS/Pretoria’s Sugar annual report provides information on the production, supply, and distribution of sugar in South Africa for marketing year (MY) 2023/24, MY 2024/25, and MY 2025/26.

Cranberry consumption and imports are growing in South Africa, with demand for dried cranberries and juice rising among middle-income, health-conscious consumers.

FAS/Pretoria’s Oilseeds and Products annual report provides information on the production, supply, and distribution for soybean, sunflowerseed, and rapeseed in South Africa for marketing year (MY) 2023/24, MY 2024/25, and MY 2025/26.

U.S. Census Bureau's (USCB) bulk, intermediate, and consumer-oriented export data tracks U.S. food and agricultural trade shipped directly to Poland.