South Africa set for record corn harvest despite delayed harvest

South Africa is expected to produce a record corn harvest of about 17.3 mln tons in 2026. Although persistent rainfall has slowed harvesting compared to last year, industry experts say the delay is unlikely to affect the final crop, as both yields and grain quality remain strong.

As of mid-July, farmers had delivered about 6.4 mln tons of corn to commercial silos, down 14% from the same period last year. According to Grain SA, another 9.5 mln tons is expected to be delivered before the end of the marketing season, allowing the country to achieve a record crop.

Agbiz Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo said the slower harvest is mainly the result of a delayed planting season. Heavy rainfall forced farmers in many grain-producing regions to postpone sowing by four to six weeks, while rains continued until mid-May, pushing harvest operations later than usual.

Despite concerns that excessive moisture could reduce grain quality, the outcome has exceeded expectations. Grain SA economist Corné Louw said modern corn hybrids have demonstrated excellent adaptability, delivering high yields not only under dry conditions but also during an unusually wet growing season.

Grain quality has also remained exceptionally high. About 95% of white corn and 93% of yellow corn have been graded as Grade 1, the highest commercial quality standard, while the remainder was classified as Grade 2. This indicates that the delayed harvest has had only a minimal impact on overall grain quality.

Tags: South Africa, corn