This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

Eswatini’s agricultural sector is the second largest contributor to the economy after the manufacturing sector. Commercial agriculture is dominated by sugar, canned fruit and beef production for export. Many Emaswati practice subsistence farming, primarily maize cultivation. The country is historically a net importer of maize, animal feed, vegetable, and other products and the volume of imports depends significantly on the amount of rainfall (which impacts local production). In 2016, the value of agriculture imports was in excess of USD 58 million. The top five import products are wheat, yellow maize, rice, whole maize, and fruits and vegetables.

Besides subsistence production, the country meets much of its demand for agricultural products through imports from South Africa.

Maize: Eswatini is a net importer of maize and yet it is a staple food for the country.  The area planted during 2016/17 year was approx. 46 000 HA, with an estimated output of 101,000 metric tons. The GKoE increased the fleet of subsidized tractors to farmers to minimize delay in cultivation.

Parliament passed the Biosafety Act in 2012 which regulates the handling and use of genetically modified organisms (GMO). This will allow the importation of GMO maize.

Wheat: Wheat is the only cereal with a significant import share from a country other than South Africa. Culturally, wheat is not a staple food in Eswatini. However, because of GKoE price controls on bread and poor maize yields, people are consuming increasing amounts of imported wheat
 

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Sugar manufacturing machinery

  • Citrus

  • Grains (maize, wheat, etc)

  • Tractors, ploughs, harrows, planters

  • Harvesting machinery

  • Machinery for milling cereals

  • Milking machines and dairy machinery

  • Haymaking machinery

  • Poultry incubators and poultry preparations machinery

  • Irrigation equipment

  • Value-added fruit processing

  • Packaging

  • Start up for food-processing establishments

  • Supply of ingredients for value-added products

  • Supply of equipment and upgrade of technology

  • Supply of packaging


Opportunities

Agro-processing Eswatini is expanding its production of industrial crops such as cotton, cassava, strawberry, melons, and sunflowers to supply industry in its processing. Huge markets exist for these products to be exported raw or processed.
 

Web Resources

Swazican Fruit Canners (Pty) Ltd http://www.rhodesfoodgroup.com
Eswatini Kitchen http://www.eswatinikitchen.com/
National Maize Corporation (Pty) Ltd http://www.nmc.co.sz

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.