
The rise of canola production in South Africa serves as an inspiration for other value chains
I often write about South Africa’s soybean success story, whose production increased from 67,700 tonnes in the 1993-94 production season to an expected 2,3 million tonnes in 2024-25. But soybeans aren’t the only success story in South Africa’s vegetable oils cluster. Canola is also an agricultural success story.

Additional notes about South Africa’s winter crop season
A few days ago, I signaled the need for us to continuously watch the weather prospects as South Africa’s winter crop season starts. I was relieved that the latest weather prospects have improved somewhat. There is now a chance of rain in the Western Cape this coming week, and a possibility of mild showers going into next week.

South Africa must temporarily suspend imports of poultry products from Brazil
We will not be alone in this step; China and the EU have just suspended Brazil’s poultry product imports. Indeed, South Africa is not self-sufficient in poultry; we import roughly 20% of our annual consumption. The suppliers for various cuts include Brazil, the US, Argentina, and the EU.

Thinking about what South Africa’s agricultural trade approach should be
Amid escalating trade tensions worldwide, the appropriate posture for SA agriculture on trade is not to prefer one country over another, but to seek ways to multiply friendships and trade relations.

Keep an eye on the weather prospects as the winter crop season starts in South Africa
We haven’t received the early winter rains in the Western Cape. The weather forecasts through the end of May are concerning. They show clear skies across the province, which means there is minimal chance for notable rain.

An uneven recovery
While I remain optimistic about South Africa’s agricultural prospects for 2025, I must acknowledge that the recovery will likely be uneven across value chains and regions.