Corona-krisis bedreig wêreldwye handel in landbou | Corona crisis threatens agricultural trade globally

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Die onverwagse en kommerwekkende verspreiding van die Coronavirus (COVID-19) het ‘n vrees vir wêreldwye ekonomiese verlangsaming laat ontstaan. Die Suid-Afrikaanse landboubedryf voer jaarliks ongeveer 25 kommoditeite ter waarde van meer as $10 miljard uit.

“Die huidige onsekerheid in die markte en die wêreldwye verlangsaming plaas bykomende druk op die verswakkende Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Die impak van die COVID-19 loop saam met die aankondiging van ‘n terugtrekking van 1,4% in ons ekonomie asook ‘n afname van 7,6% vir die landbou in die vierde kwartaal van 2019,” sê Omri van Zyl, Agri SA se uitvoerende direkteur.

Die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie (WGO) het Vrydag, 28 Februarie 2020, die COVID-19-uitbreking as ‘n wêreldwye pandemie verklaar. Regerings regoor die wêreld moes noodgedwonge gebeurlikheidsplanne in plek stel asook hul bekampingsmaatreëls versterk. Die wêreldmark het verlede week meer as $6 miljard verloor. Dit was die swakste ekonomiese week sedert die wêreldwye resessie in 2008.

“Dit is tans ‘n ingewikkelde taak om die ekonomiese impak op die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou te bepaal.  Op die korttermyn verwag ons uitdagings met die voorsienings-en logistieke kettings wat ernstige skade vir uitvoergedrewe landboukommoditeite kan beteken, ”sê Van Zyl.

 Agri SA werk voortdurend saam met die bedryfsliggame om die impak van COVID-19 te monitor.

Navrae:

Omri van Zyl

Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur

Jolanda Andrag
Agri SA Hoof: Bedryfskamer

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The unexpected and alarming spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has sparked fears of a global economic slowdown. South African agriculture exports approximately 25 commodities amounting to a value of more than $10 billion annually.

“The current uncertainty of the markets and the subsequent global economic slowdown is adding additional pressure on the debilitating South African economy. The growing impact of the COVID-19 coincides with the announcement of a 1,4% retraction in our economy as well as a decline of 7,6% for agriculture in the fourth quarter of 2019,” says Omri van Zyl, Agri SA’s executive director.

On Friday, 28 February 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, resulting in governments around the world to strengthen their containment measures. Last week, the global market lost more than $6 trillion resulting in the worst economic week since the global recession in 2008.

“At this stage, it is difficult to quantify the economic impact on South African agriculture. Over the short term we are expecting supply chain and logistical disruptions that may cause harm to export-driven agricultural sectors,” says Van Zyl. Agri SA will continuously work alongside industry bodies to monitor the impact of COVID-19.

Enquiries:

Omri van Zyl

Agri SA Executive Director

Jolanda Andrag
Agri SA Head: Commodity Chamber