from DION HENRICK in Cape Town
Western Cape Bureau
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s rooibos industry is entering 2026 balancing export growth with climate risk and shifting global trade conditions, even as agriculture gains renewed political backing.
In his recent State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa described agriculture as a “rapidly expanding export sector” and reaffirmed government’s commitment to infrastructure development and global market expansion — signals welcomed by producers of the iconic Cederberg-grown botanical.
Yet industry leaders are signalling caution rather than aggressive expansion.
“Rooibos is not a volume-driven commodity. Its long-term value lies in quality, origin integrity and responsible stewardship,” said Dawie de Villiers, Chair of the South African Rooibos Council (SARC). “As the industry navigates 2026, stability rather than expansion will remain its strategic anchor. Our approach prioritises reliability and trust – factors that underpin both local livelihoods and global confidence in our product.”
Production remains cyclical and climate-sensitive. Estimated 2025 output is around 15,000 tons, down from 17,000 tons in 2023, reflecting dryland farming conditions and rainfall variability in the crop’s tightly defined growing area. Over two decades, production has ranged between 13,000 and 25,000 tons annually. Combined domestic and international demand averages roughly 18,000 tons per year, reinforcing consensus that sustainability and soil resilience must outweigh volume-driven growth.
Exports, however, are structurally strengthening. In 2025, shipments surpassed 10,000 tons for the first time, reaching approximately 10,930 tons — nearly double 2015 levels. Rooibos now reaches more than 50 markets, with Japan accounting for 33% of exports last year at about 3,606 tons. Established European markets remain steady, while Asian markets such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and China are expanding.
Diversification is also reshaping demand. Legally a tisane rather than tea, rooibos is increasingly used in ready-to-drink beverages, kombucha, skincare formulations and functional foods. Scientific credibility supports this growth: since 1962, 735 peer-reviewed studies have been published across 62 countries, with SARC funding 24 research projects over the past decade.
“Consumers and buyers increasingly demand proof – whether in science, provenance or sustainability. Rooibos delivers on all fronts and that credibility is our strongest currency,” de Villiers said.
The industry benefits from Geographical Indication protection and a pioneering Access and Benefit Sharing agreement that distributed R42.7 million to Traditional Knowledge holders between 2019 and 2024.
“The industry is realistic about risk, but confident in its foundations,” de Villiers emphasised. “This is not just about the product, it’s about sustaining communities, supporting rural economies and maintaining SA’s reputation abroad.”
In an era of volatile commodity cycles, rooibos is betting on credibility over scale.
– CAJ News