Poland supplied nearly a quarter of South Africa’s wheat imports

South Africa imported about 1.8 mln tons of wheat from October 2025 through early September 2026. Poland was the largest supplier, accounting for 23% of purchases, while Russia supplied 15% and Lithuania 14%.

Overall, South Africa imports about half of its annual wheat consumption. Imports above 1 mln tons a year have been typical since the 2003/04 MY, compared with average imports of about 459 thsd tons in 1989/90–2002/03.

The country’s growing dependence on imports is linked to declining planted area and rising domestic consumption. Since the 1997/98 MY, wheat area has fallen below 1 mln ha, as some farmers, particularly in the Free State province, shifted to more profitable crops.

At the same time, wheat yields have improved significantly. They were below 2 t/ha in 1997/98, but reached 3.8 t/ha in the 2024/25 season. However, productivity gains have not been enough to offset the decline in planted area.

South Africa’s wheat sector remains under pressure this season due to dry weather and high production costs. This continues to support the country’s need for substantial wheat imports.

Tags: Poland, wheat, South Africa, imports