# Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, says South Africa’s exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area have surged to 820-million-rand since preferential trade began in January 2024. Key exports include mining gear, food, and electronics, with top destinations like Ghana, Kenya, and Egypt. Whitfield says imports under the same agreement reached 610-million-rand. While 48 tariff schedules have been adopted, he stresses the need to tackle non-tariff barriers and fast-track full implementation across the continent.
SA exports under African Continental Free Trade Area hit R820-million since 2024