We have currently entered a period of lower maize prices in South Africa. This is a relatively favourable period for South African households, livestock farmers, and poultry producers, who are the major consumers of maize.
Looking at South Africa’s white maize spot prices today, they are down by over 35% from a year ago, trading at R3,595 per tonne.
In the case of yellow maize, the pot price is down by over 20% from a year ago, trading around R3,450 per tonne.
These notable declines in maize prices illustrate the improved supplies in the domestic market. After all, we have a sizable harvest in the 2024-25 season. The Crop Estimate Committee forecast South Africa’s maize harvest at 16.12 million tonnes, which is 26% higher than the crop for the 2023-24 season.
Importantly, the expected maize crop is well above South Africa’s annual maize needs of approximately 12.00 million tonnes, implying that South Africa will have a surplus and remain a net exporter of maize.
The notable decline in domestic maize prices illustrates the ample harvest. Moreover, the relatively slow pace of export activity has contributed to the decline in maize prices.
For the 2025-26 marketing year (which corresponds with he 2024-25 production season), South Africa’s maize exports are forecast at 2.24 million tonnes. This season ends in April 2026. Ideally, we should have seen robust export activity by now. But the exports have been slow.
Since the start of the year in May 2025 through to the end of September 2025, South Africa had exported about 650,897 tonnes, out of the expected seasonal exports of 2.24 million tonnes.
We are seeing softer demand in the African region, as some countries also have decent supplies. However, we will likely see more robust export activity later in the year and in early 2026, when some countries in the region have depleted their supplies. It is such a time when, perhaps, maize prices could nudge up a bit. But for now, we remain in a period of lower maize prices.
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