Bumper maize crops and growing local wheat imports have seen volumes through the East London grain elevator at their highest in years. The grain elevator, with a storage capacity of 76 000 tons, is the largest in South Africa. Built in the 1970s, the elevator has been upgraded to handle both imports and exports. Transnet National Ports Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor says a maize export programme started in July and would run until December, with at least 60 000 tons of maize expected to leave the harbour each month. Wheat imports, while down on last year, are expected to increase towards the end of 2008.
