Despite frosty relations with the EU in the aftermath of Zimbabwe’s land reform program, Zimbabwe and the EU have remained partners in the EPA with Eastern and Southern Africa. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Zimbabwe and the EU is a preferential trade agreement allowing certain goods from Zimbabwe to enter the EU market under favorable conditions and vice versa.
The EU is a strategic export market for Zimbabwe especially in the agricultural sector. According to 2018 figures published by the European Commission1, agricultural exports constitute nearly 50% of all exports from Zimbabwe into the EU.
Here is the breakdown…
Tobacco – US$105 million ( EUR 88 million)
Citrus Fruits – US$37 million (EUR 31million)
Vegetables – US$22 million (EUR 18 million)
Apart from these particular exports, Zimbabwe also exports cut flowers to the EU of between 5 and 6 tonnes. Two thirds of these or 4 tonnes are roses. Cut flowers earned Zimbabwe US$6.79 million (EUR 5.7 million) in 2018.
Some of Zimbabwe’s leading exporters in the agricultural and horticultural sector include:-
Mhimbe Fresh Exports
Luxaflor Roses
Selby Enterprise