By Lebogang Mashala
The South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) recent, unexpected decision to cut interest rates by 0.25%, effective 30 May 2025, provides a significant boost to the profitability outlook for the agricultural sector. This is according to Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural Economist at FNB Commercial.
Makube stated that this rate cut is a welcome relief for farmers, as it reduces debt servicing costs following a contraction in the agriculture sector caused by drought. “Overall sector performance had declined by 8% year-on-year, with total debt uptake increasing by 8% to R221.82 billion. Over the past decade, total agricultural debt has risen by 67%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%,” he elaborated.
Makube said the interest rate cut will not only alleviate pressure on profit margins but will also encourage investment recovery in the sector as output improves due to favourable production conditions.
“The signs for a growth upswing in agriculture include a 15.7% year-on-year increase in the expected 2024/25 summer crop harvest, a rebound in agricultural machinery sales and positive trends in the Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI),” he added.
“The quarterly ACI update for the first quarter of 2025 rose by 11 points from the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2021, at 70 points. We observed a significant increase in agriculture machinery sales for Q1 2025, which were up 27% compared to the same period in 2024, totalling 1 827 units. Additionally, sales were up 22% year-to-date as of April 2025, reaching 2 400 units, according to the South African Agriculture Machinery Association (SAAMA) update in April 2025,” explained Makube.
He added that, furthermore, recent cuts and anticipated further reductions later in the year are expected to enhance consumer confidence and boost demand for agricultural commodities, benefiting from a favourable inflation and macroeconomic outlook.
Des Lesele, Senior Manager for Agribusiness Client Value Propositions at Nedbank Commercial Banking, explained the decision to cut interest rates was made in light of increasing global uncertainty, which includes trade tensions and geopolitical fragmentation. “While the impact of US trade barriers remains uncertain, following the Court of International Trade’s decision to block most proposed tariff changes, these elevated trade barriers and associated concerns pose risks to global economic growth and potential upward pressure on global inflation during this period of reconfiguration,” he noted.
Lesele welcomed the interest rate cut, stating it will help farmers manage their lending costs, offset rising fuel and diesel prices and alleviate some financial pressures. “We expect the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will likely reduce the repo rate again, possibly towards the end of the year, once the risks to growth and inflation become clearer as we navigate this environment of heightened trade uncertainty,” he added.
