All roads lead to New Delhi, India, this week for the 18th BRICS summit on September 12 and 13.
Various geopolitical and economic issues will dominate political leaders’ agendas. In preparation for the summit, organised business groupings in BRICS countries have also prepared inputs for the political principals.
I participated in the South African chapter through the BRICS Business Council, where I chair the Agribusiness Working Group.
Throughout the year, we considered several issues, including climate change, regenerative agriculture, food security, agricultural innovation, research cooperation and international trade.
South African agribusinesses have continued to champion deeper intra-BRICS trade. There is broad agreement among local agribusinesses, commodity associations and organised farming bodies that the grouping offers significant potential for export expansion.
We view BRICS as an important market for agricultural and food products. The expanded grouping accounts for roughly half of the world’s agricultural imports.
However, these major agricultural importers source relatively little from South Africa. The original BRICS countries, including the key markets of India and China, account for less than 10% of South Africa’s agricultural exports. By comparison, Southern African Customs Union countries account for roughly 20%.
High tariffs and phytosanitary barriers are among the main obstacles preventing South African agricultural products from gaining greater access to BRICS markets.
Some BRICS countries also offer more favourable trading terms to non-BRICS countries, contributing to low levels of intra-BRICS agricultural trade.
Addressing this imbalance has become more urgent following the expansion of the grouping. The new members have broadened the agricultural market and increased its potential economic benefits.
BRICS is not a formal trade bloc. However, as the grouping matures politically, greater economic integration and trade would be a logical step towards expanding its ambitions, particularly in agriculture. Increased agricultural trade could also strengthen food security across the grouping.
A comprehensive BRICS free trade agreement would be a lengthy process. In the near term, a preferential trade arrangement for agricultural products would be more practical. It could improve market access, lower import tariffs and address phytosanitary barriers.
Brazil, South Africa and Russia typically have substantial agricultural surpluses, while countries including India and China import many of these products from the global market. Lower tariffs, fewer non-tariff barriers and tariff-rate quotas for particular products could expand trade among members.
Such a move would build on the steps taken by China. In May 2026, China lowered tariffs on goods from Africa under the China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement. Other BRICS countries, particularly India, could follow this example.
Over the years, the South African Agribusiness Working Group of the BRICS Business Council has focused on expanding exports to these markets. More ambitious integration through trade will be important to the grouping’s long-term sustainability.
South Africa has consistently called for a BRICS agricultural trade partnership or, at the very least, stronger bilateral agreements to increase intra-BRICS trade.
There has not yet been sufficient appetite for this approach. As BRICS leaders meet in New Delhi, improved agricultural market access should remain a priority for South African agribusiness.
