Business Day - 10 April 2018 by Dianna Games, Africa@Work

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Business Day - 27 March 2018 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Business Day - 13 March 2018 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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RESPONSE TO COLUMN

Letter in Business Day - 30 April 2018: A good idea but overdue

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This research report aims to identify opportunities to develop the regional value chain in agricultural inputs, and the opportunities within that value chain for regional trade. It also aims to detail policy initiatives to be undertaken by the South African Department of Trade and Industry to capitalise on those opportunities in order to promote regional integration and growth and development supported by expanding regional value chains.The study covers the following countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The research aims to answer the following questions:

• What is the current profile of the agricultural inputs sector in each country?
• What are the key factors driving demand for different categories of agricultural inputs across the four countries?
• What are the main factors that constrain demand for agricultural inputs in each country, and in aggregate across the region?
• What is the current structure of the regional value chain in these inputs? How is it organised?
• How well is the chain functioning?
• What and where are the opportunities to improve the functioning of the regional value chain?
• What does this analysis imply for the dti’s regional development policy?

The basic chemicals and petroleum refineries industry comprises polymers, bulk petrochemicals and intermediates, other basic industrial and inorganic chemicals, and fertilisers. It forms part of the broader chemicals industry, which also encompasses household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and products of plastic and rubber, most of which are downstream from basic chemicals and petroleum refineries.

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Other subsector notes:

Beverages

Capital equipment

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles

Electronics and appliances

Food processing

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper

The beverages industry comprises alcoholic and soft drinks excluding fruit juices, which are classed under fruit and vegetable processing. Soft drinks were around a fifth of beverages turnover.

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Other subsector notes

Basic chemicals and petroleum refineries

Capital equipment

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles

Electronics and appliances

Food processing

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper

Capital equipment comprises machinery and equipment used in production. While it does not equate to a standard statistical category, it largely falls under machinery and electrical equipment. Machinery refers to the production of machine tools, engines, pumps, handling equipment, armaments and similar complex equipment; electrical machinery covers electric motors and transformers as well as cables and lights. These categories exclude transport equipment, appliances and precision equipment, for instance for medical use. The line between these classes of equipment has however become increasingly blurred as digital controls grow in importance.

Download a copy or read online

Other subsector notes

Basic chemicals and petroleum refineries

Beverages

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles

Electronics and appliances

Food processing

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles (CTFL) comprises the chain from synthetic and natural inputs to final clothing and shoes. The leather and textiles production are distinct, but both clothing and shoes now largely make use of synthetic inputs from the chemicals industry. Relatively few shoes today are made mostly from leather.

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Other subsector notes:

Basic chemicals

Beverages

Capital equipment

Electronics and appliances

Food processing

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper

Electronics and appliances refers principally to consumer equipment products. Electronics is also a core component for capital equipment as well as business services and communications. The industry covers SIC 37 (precision instruments, which includes information and communications technology, or ICT). It also includes parts of electric machinery (SIC 36), mostly some inputs to electronics, and machinery (SIC 35), which includes domestic and office machinery.

Download a copy or read online

Other subsector notes

Basic chemicals and petroleum refineries

Beverages

Capital equipment

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles

Food processing

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper

The food processing industry comprises the production of final food products based mainly, although not exclusively, on agricultural inputs. The line between agriculture and food processing is not always entirely clear, however, although the formal definition of food processing excludes processing that takes place on the farm. The industry is highly diverse, with significantly different processes used in major subsectors, for instance maize milling, bakeries, meat and poultry processing and horticulture.

Download a copy or read online

Other subsector notes

Basic chemicals and petroleum refineries

Beverages

Capital equipment

Clothing, footwear, leather and textiles

Electronics and appliances

Furniture and manufacturing activities not elsewhere classified

Glass and non-metalic minerals

Metal and metal products

Other chemicals, rubber and plastics

Printing and publishing

Transport equipment

Wood and paper