South Africa's maize export programme is running ahead of last year's pace as demand from key Far Eastern markets returns, boosting bulk grain shipments following a record harvest.
South Africa has exported 760 015 tonnes of maize since the start of the 2026/27 marketing year in May, with exports expected to reach three million tonnes this season, a 50% increase on the previous marketing year, Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said.
The improvement reflects renewed demand from Asian buyers after a subdued 2025/26 export season, when exports were concentrated mainly in neighbouring African markets.
"We have seen exports to countries such as Vietnam, South Korea and Japan resume in the new 2026/27 marketing year," Sihlobo said.
He said African countries remained important buyers, particularly Zimbabwe, but the return of Far Eastern markets, which typically import larger volumes, was encouraging for South Africa's export programme.
South Africa exported 50 998 tonnes of maize during the latest reporting week, with about 60% destined for Vietnam, 13% for Zimbabwe and the balance for neighbouring Southern African countries.
The stronger export programme follows expectations of a record 17.3 million-tonne maize harvest this season, leaving ample supplies for both domestic consumption and export markets.
South Africa consumes about 12 million tonnes of maize annually, meaning export volumes are not expected to place pressure on local supplies.
Despite the strong export programme, the harvest remains behind schedule. Sihlobo said farmers had delivered about 7.8 million tonnes of maize to commercial silos by the eleventh week of the marketing year, around 10% behind the pace recorded a year earlier, reflecting the season's delayed start. However, he said the crop remained in good condition and the slower harvest had not materially affected expectations for record production or export availability.
The pace of exports was likely to remain strong in the coming weeks as international demand continued to absorb the country's surplus maize production, Sihlobo said.
