The United States is officially the Western Cape’s largest export market for the first time.This follows exports totalling close on R17 billion in 2021 – an increase of 57.5% on 2020’s value of R10.8 billion, and a significant 88.5% higher than the R9 billion recorded in 2019.According to trade promotion agency Wesgro, f lat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel were the largest exported products to the US, increasing by R1.6 billion since 2019 to the value of R2.5 billion in 2021. This was followed by articles of jewellery at R2.2 billion, citrus fruit (fresh or dried) at R1.8 billion, and yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports at R1 billion in 2021.A 24.5% increase in citrus exports and a 41.6% increase in wine exports to the US from 2020 to 2021 were also notable.For the past decade, the US has also been the largest investor in the Western Cape by capex, with US companies investing R2.9 billion and R4.4 billion into the Western Cape in 2020 and 2021, respectively. This has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs, as well as in training and skills development opportunities and support for local communities through outreach and humanitarian programmes in the province“
