EconomyTrade

South African Small Business Exports to US Plummet Nearly 50% Following Tariff Changes

South African small and medium-sized enterprises have experienced a dramatic 46% decline in exports to the United States since April, according to new shipping data. The drop follows the implementation of reciprocal tariffs and the elimination of a key duty exemption that previously protected low-value shipments.

Steep Decline in South African SME Exports to US Market

Exports from South African small and medium-sized enterprises to the United States have plummeted by 46% since April, according to reports from international shipping platform TUNL. The company’s SME Export Index, which tracks real shipping volumes from a fixed cohort of 1,850 South African exporters, provides a monthly barometer of how global tariff policies are affecting small businesses.