MACADAMIA NUT EXPORTS

The KZN south coast is one of South Africa’s leading producers of macadamia nuts, and local growers have seen volumes of this product double over the past four years.

Macadamias are a long-term crop, with no income generated in the first few years. Outside of Chinese and Asian markets, most macadamia nuts produced in South Africa are exported to Europe and the USA.

Employment creation exists throughout the production chain, from farming through to manual selection, husk removal, drying in shed systems, cracking, classifying and packaging. Macadamia nuts are consumed as a healthy snack and incorporated into baked goods and desserts, opening up opportunities for investment in this sector.

Trade & Investment KZN plays a pivotal role in South Africa’s status as the world’s leading macadamia exporter. They believe that it is vital to move beyond exporting raw materials to focus on local agro-processing and to this end, their export unit has been working with local entrepreneurs who produce macadamia-based products such as oil, nut butter and packaged nuts.

By participating in international trade exhibitions, entrepreneurs can showcase their products, establish networks and secure new markets. This drives economic growth and job creation in the province.

www.investkznsouthcoast.co.za