Grain production in South Africa is recovering: favorable weather supports harvest and exports

South Africa has significantly improved its food supply situation compared to last year, thanks to favorable weather conditions that have contributed to an increase in the grain harvest. In particular, Zambia is forecast to harvest 3.66 million tonnes of maize in 2024/2025, which is significantly higher than the previous season (1.5 million tonnes). This allows Zambia to return to the status of a net exporter of maize, as domestic consumption is about 2.8 million tonnes. The increase in supply is expected to reduce maize prices, which will help reduce food inflation in the country.

The improvement is not only observed in Zambia, but also in other countries in the region. In Zimbabwe, 1.7 million hectares of maize have been sown this year, which is slightly less than last year, but still an encouraging figure. Preliminary data point to a better harvest than the dry season of 2023/2024, although precise yield data will be available later.

South Africa is showing even more optimistic results. The forecast for the 2024/2025 maize harvest is 14.66 million tonnes, which is 14% higher than the previous season. Of this, 7.75 million tonnes are white maize and 6.91 million tonnes are yellow maize. This volume significantly exceeds the country’s domestic needs (11.8 million tonnes), providing a surplus for export.

The recovery of cereal production in the region, particularly in Zambia and South Africa, which are key maize suppliers, creates positive prospects for stabilizing food prices and strengthening South Africa’s position in the international grain market.

Tags: grain, crop forecast, Zambia, corn