South Africa positioned to meet Zimbabwe's maize shortage

South Africa has ample maize to meet an expected maize shortage in Zimbabwe. Given the economic conditions of the landlocked country, it remains a question whether the country’s grain authorities will manage to secure the half million tonnes of imported maize it needs. Zimbabwe’s 2022/23 maize production could reach 1,5 million tonnes, almost half of the ample harvest of 2,7 million tonnes in the 2020/21 production season. Fortunately, South Africa’s 2023/24 marketing year maize surplus of over 3 million tonnes will help meet the potential rise in imports in Zimbabwe, said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). “From a supply perspective, South Africa is in a relatively strong position,” Sihlobo said. Recent estimates by the Crop Estimates Committee, indicate that Mzansi’s 2022/23 commercial maize production could reach 16,1 million tonnes. This is a 5% increase from the previous season. Given South Africa’s annual maize ...