SA's maize crop forecast lifted as 2025 harvest shows strong recovery

SOUTH Africa's summer grain outlook has improved further, with the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) raising its eighth production forecast for the 2024/25 season.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

THE Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) eight summer production forecast released on Tuesday indicated that the size of the expected commercial maize crop has been set at 16.178 million tonnes, which is 2.38% or 376,250 tonnes more than the previous forecast of 15.802 million tonnes.

(SIPHIWE SIBEKO Independent Newspapers)

The CEC announced on Tuesday that the expected commercial maize crop is now 16.178 million tons, reflecting an increase of 2.38% (376 250 tons) from the previous forecast of 15.802 million tons.

This represents a 25.9% increase (3.328 million tons) from the drought-hit 2024 harvest.

The committee said the expected maize yield stands at 6.23 t/ha, with the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces expected to contribute 82% of national output.

The forecast for the white maize harvest is now 8.328 million tons, representing a 3.05% increase from the previous estimate, while yellow maize output has been revised upward by 1.68% to 7.851 million tons.

The CEC said the adjustments reflected higher producer deliveries reported by the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS).

Other summer crops have also seen modest upward revisions.