Overseas demand for South African agricultural products grew 30% between 2008 and 2010, while agricultural imports dropped by nearly one percent.

Europe's debt crisis has led banks there to refuse to lend money to firms trading with Africa, threatening growth on the continent.

Japan's exports fell for the fifth month in July as the country contends with a strong yen and the ongoing impact of the March earthquake and tsunami.

Transnet National Port Authority has been rapped on the knuckles for being expensive and inefficient.

A group of Brazilian businesses on a visit to Mozambique have pledged to invest up to $500-million in the country.

China overtook the United States as South Africa's biggest export destination in the first half of 2009.

De Beers, the world's top diamond producer, said on Monday that 2008 looks to be a "challenging" year for the industry due to a slowdown in the global economy that could dampen demand for diamonds. But Gareth Penny, De Beers's managing director, said rough diamond prices are still rising due to lack of new supply.