South African sugarcane growers eye sweeter exports as China's zero-tariff policy for Africa takes effect

South Africa's sugarcane sector, a cornerstone of the country's agriculture, stands ready to further integrate into the vast Chinese market as the zero-tariff policy for African countries officially takes effect.

China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Tuesday that from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, the country will grant zero-tariff treatment to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as the least developed countries.

This follows the country's earlier decision to grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines, effective from Dec 1, 2024, for the 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.

In effect, the zero-tariff treatment has been expanded to cover all 53 African countries that maintain ties with China.

In KwaZulu-Natal province, one of South Africa's traditional agricultural powerhouses, local farmers are hopeful that their sugarcane products will soon reach Chinese consumers.

Pratish Sharma, a sugarcane grower in the province, has witnessed the industry endure an unprecedented winter of challenges, including volatile international prices and trade barriers. When he heard of China's zero-tariff policy, however, his hope returned.

"It'll make trading in China a lot easier. It will create a better revenue stream for exports of sugar to China. And agreements like these assist in rejuvenating our economy within the industry and making us more viable," the farmer said.

Official data shows that China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding 53.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Yet, the country's agricultural products currently account for only 0.4 percent of China's total agricultural imports, indicating huge growth potential.

Kulani Siweya, market and trade policy director at the South African Sugar Association, sees greater opportunity ahead for the country's roughly 25,000 registered sugarcane growers.

"Main regions or destinations are the U.S., Europe. [We are] exporting about between 35,000 to 70,000 tonnes to the China market. South Africa stands ready to give you quality sweet sugar that will satisfy the Chinese palate," said Siweya.

Beyond sugar, South African specialties such as citrus, macadamia nuts, wine, and other high-quality agricultural products are also expected to gain broader market access in China. This has encouraged farmers like Sharma to experiment with a wider range of crops.

"I've converted 18 hectares of sugar cane into macadamias. So that process of diversification has already begun. And with trade initiatives such as the zero-rated making all of us more sustainable and viable," Sharma said.

John Steenhuisen, South African Minister of Agriculture, said China's zero-tariff initiative will help reshape the agricultural sector.

"The tariff-free access that's been granted us is going to be a game changer for not only citrus but also for the entire agricultural sector. We're now going to be able to compete with excellent quality wines and other agricultural goods in that market in a far more competitive basis," said the minister.

South African sugarcane growers eye sweeter exports as China's zero-tariff policy for Africa takes effect

The spillover effects from the Middle East conflict are continuing to put a strain Syria's already struggling economy, with sharp price hikes and surging living costs in the capital Damascus bringing difficulties to the daily lives of local residents.

Syria has been mired in an economic crisis for well over a decade, driven by civil war, sanctions and infrastructural decay, but now the widening impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has piled more pressure on the country in recent weeks, as these external shocks compound some of the country's deep-rooted structural problems.

Prices of basic foods including eggs and bread continue to rise, while supplies of essentials like cooking gas remain tight as living costs in Damascus are spiraling. At one of the capital's busiest markets, stalls are stocked with everyday staples, but soaring prices have driven most customers away.

For many locals, a severe lack of job opportunities is also making things even worse, with a growing share of the population falling into unemployment.

Incomes have plunged but the cost of living keeps climbing and, for many ordinary people, just trying to get by is becoming an increasingly daunting challenge. One local resident lamented the current state of affairs.

"Nothing is sufficient anymore. Everything went up in price just two days ago -- meat, chicken, you name it. But wages are low, and 60 percent of people are out of work. Many are going hungry. Most are trapped in poverty and need help. I came back from the Gulf with 10,000 U.S. dollars, but it was all gone within six months. Now I have no income and there's no job opportunities," said the local man.

Meanwhile, higher fuel prices, disrupted cross-border trade, and worsening market expectations are directly driving up the cost of domestic goods.

This is also bringing misery to merchants and business owners, as many shopkeepers have seen a clear drop in sales as market activity is shrinking and their customers are forced to make cut-backs.

"Costs are extremely high right now. Prices of diesel, gasoline, and cooking gas are all going up. People's purchasing power has fallen by at least half. I used to sell 50 kilograms of chicken a day. Now it's 25 kilograms. Many families are cutting back. Some have stopped eating meat altogether," said Abu Khaled, a chicken shop owner.

Damascus residents count costs as Middle East turmoil sends prices soaring