By Jasper Raats
The start of the 2025 macadamia harvest has brought unwelcome news, but key stakeholders in South Africa’s macadamia industry have urged calm. Their response follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 30% tariff on imports from South Africa.
The United States is South Africa’s second-largest export market for macadamia nuts after China, and remains the largest destination for shelled macadamia nuts.
Alex Whyte, the director of Green Farms Nut Company, acknowledges that the tariff will affect exports to the US, but emphasises the need for perspective. “Most of the world’s macadamia-exporting countries are impacted by these tariffs – though not all to the same extent.”
Pieter van der Westhuizen of Empire Exports notes that while Australia and Kenya face lower tariffs than South Africa, neither country produces enough macadamia nuts to fully replace South Africa’s exports to the US.
He says that with no surplus of macadamias at present anywhere, a redistribution of markets among producing countries is likely.
Whyte believes that despite the tariffs, the US will still need to import macadamia nuts, as domestic production remains insufficient. “As long as tariffs apply across the board, South Africa can still compete. The key is not to panic – keep cool, let the dust settle, and make rational decisions.”
This aligns with the guidance Macadamias South Africa (SAMAC) provided to its members in a brief letter following Trump’s announcement.
The organisation acknowledges that the tariff announcement has caused significant concern among farmers and other stakeholders in the value chain, but urges members to remain calm until more details emerge.
America is a key market for South African kernel exports, and SAMAC takes this development very seriously, the letter states. It is still unclear, however, which products will be affected, what the timeline will be, and what the full impact will entail. SAMAC’s priority is to gain clarity and carefully assess the potential consequences for the industry.
Both Van der Westhuizen and SAMAC CEO Lizel Pretorius note that the global market for shelled macadamia nuts remains stable, while demand for in-shell nuts from China looks particularly strong this year.
Whyte says the recent weakening of the rand offers some relief to exporters, but describes it as only a thin silver lining to the dark cloud currently looming over the industry.
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