We
continue
to
observe
maize
exports
from
South
Africa
to
the
Southern
African
region,
but
the
volumes
remain
much
smaller
than
I
anticipated.
The
stocks
are
low
in
Zimbabwe,
and
I
thought
they
would
be
buying
large
volumes
of
maize
by
now.
Perhaps
we
are
yet
to
see
such
imports.
We
currently
have
modest
exports
from
South
Africa
to
the
region.
For
example,
South
Africa
exported
42,931
tonnes
of
maize
last
week,
with
approximately
56%
going
to
Zimbabwe,
and
the
remainder
to
other
countries
in
the
Southern
African
region.
This
placed
South
Africa’s
2025-26
maize
exports
at
1.42
million
tonnes,
out
of
the
expected
seasonal
exports
of
2.40
million
tonnes.
The
current
marketing
year
only
ends
in
April
2026.
We
expect
more
robust
export
activity
this
quarter,
driven
by
stronger
demand
in
the
Southern
African
region.
To
meet
the
expected
exports,
South
Africa
must
export
1
million
tonnes
of
maize
within
the
next
three
months.
The
ample
maize
supplies
in
South
Africa,
combined
with
the
slow
export
activity,
have
added
downward
pressure
on
prices.
South
Africa’s
white
and
yellow
maize
prices
are
currently
down
by
over
30%
from
a
year
ago.
While
South
Africa
has
an
ample
harvest
and
will
remain
a
net
exporter
of
maize,
minor
imports
of
yellow
maize
from
Argentina
are
expected
to
continue
for
South
Africa’s
coastal
regions.
For
example,
so
far
in
the
2025-26
marketing
year,
South
Africa
has
imported
110,447
tonnes
of
yellow
maize
for
feed
in
the
country’s
coastal
regions.
These
importers
primarily
benefit
from
the
low
prices
of
Argentinian
supplies.
Post
published
in:
Agriculture