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The Port of Durban received a shipment of imported white maize — the first import of the grain since March 2017, when South Africa was experiencing a severe drought.
The African Baza, a bulk carrier sailing under the Bahamas flag, offloaded 23 700 tonnes of white maize produced in the US, while another vessel containing 46 000 tonnes of white maize is expected in February, says Dr André van der Vyver, executive director of the South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (Sacota).
The current imports are necessitated by poor crops and record-high grain exports to Zimbabwe in 2024. During the 2023/24 production year, grains and oilseeds experienced a bad year, with production declining approximately 22,5 percent for maize and 33,5 percent for soybeans from the previous year.
The Crop Estimates Committee in November 2024 estimated white maize production at just over six million tonnes — down 29,3 percent from the previous year — and yellow maize at 6,716 million tonnes, down 15,4 percent.
“In the South African seasonal crop cycle, these products should last until approximately March/April 2025 before the new crop (planted in November and December 2024) will become available again,” Van der Vyver notes.
As early as February 2024 it became evident that South Africa would have to import yellow maize and possibly white maize and soybeans.
“South Africa had just enough grains to feed itself, but we also supply grain to countries in the Sacu (Southern African Customs Union) region. — Moneyweb.
Online Reporter