Johannesburg – South Africa, the continent's largest
producer of maize, could return to being a net exporter of maize in the next
marketing year if the current rains continue in the next few months.
South Africa imported 36 464 tons of maize in the first
week of this year.
The country has had to import maize due to the severe
drought that has ravaged the country, especially the main maize-producing
provinces of the Free State and the North West.
According to data released on Tuesday by South African
Grain Information Services (Sagis), the country imported 32 421 tons of yellow
maize and 4 043 tons of white maize for the week ended January 6.
These numbers, however, show a significant decline from
the 82 932 tons of yellow maize and 41 320 of white maize the country imported
in the last week of December.
South Africa did not import wheat for the period under
review.
It imported wheat in the last week of November last year
and exported 8 548 tons to the Southern African Development Community countries
in the last week of December, with Zimbabwe being the main beneficiary at 5 807
tons.
Wandile Sihlobo, an agricultural economist at
Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), said Tuesday’s data showed there had
been activity in the market and he expected maize to benefit from the current
rains.
“The eastern and central parts of South Africa received
higher rainfall in December. As a result, maize crops are in a good condition
in these areas. Moreover, the forecast rainfall within the next two weeks could
lead to notable improvements in crop conditions throughout the country,”Sihlobo
said.
He put the market estimates for the country’s 2016/17
maize production at between 11.7 million and 13 million tons. This is well
above last season’s production of 7.5 million tons.
If Sihlobo’s estimates prove to be true, South Africa
will be a net exporter of maize as the country’s annual consumption is 10.5
million tons. The National Crop Estimate will release its official crop
production later this month.