I am unsure if most people noticed, but South Africa’s 2024-25 maize crop of 16.44 million tonnes is the second-largest on record. This is up 28% from the previous season, boosted by the better yields.
The area planted for the 2024-25 maize crop is actually down mildly from the 2023-24 season, at 2.59 million hectares. In essence, the favourable La Niña-induced rains are the core factor behind the yield improvement, along with farmers’ efforts to nurture the crops.
About 8.38 million tonnes are white maize, with 8.06 million tonnes yellow maize, for a total of 16.44 million tonnes.
Importantly, the 16.44 million tonnes harvest is well above South Africa’s annual maize needs of approximately 12.00 million tonnes, indicating a surplus and continued net maize exports.
In fact, since the start of the 2025-26 marketing year in May, which corresponds with the 2024-25 production season, South Africa’s maize export activity has been reasonably substantial. From the start of May 2025 to November 21, 2025, South Africa’s total maize exports for the 2025-26 maize season amounted to 1.07 million tonnes.
There is still ample export volume to occur in the months ahead through the end of the marketing year in April 2026. Exports are expected to reach 2.24 million tonnes.
We will likely see more robust export activity later in early 2026, when demand in the region is expected to be strong. For now, some countries are relying on their domestic maize supplies from the 2024-25 season.
Maize exports so far are reasonably diverse but concentrated in a few markets. For example, Zimbabwe remains a leading market, accounting for 30% of the exported 1.07 million tonnes of maize so far this season. Botswana accounts for 13%, while Vietnam accounts for 10%.
Other notable markets include Namibia, Eswatini, Venezuela, South Korea, and Taiwan, amongst others.
In Far East markets, exports are mainly yellow maize, while in regional markets they are mixed, including both white and yellow maize. The Far East markets use the yellow maize as feed in poultry and livestock, amongst other uses.
On November 26, 2025, South Africa’s white maize spot price traded around 3,794 per tonne, down by 39% from a year ago. The decline in prices mirrors the ample harvest.
On the same day, South Africa’s yellow maize spot price traded around R3,694 per tonne, down 25% from a year ago, also due to ample market supplies.
In essence, these lower maize prices bode well for consumer food price inflation.
Beyond these activities, the farmers on the ground are now focused on tilling the land for the next season, and the weather outlook remains favourable.
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