Market Trends of South Africa Maize Industry
Rising Demand for Maize in Food and Feed Industries
South Africa's corn consumption encompasses both white and yellow varieties. White corn serves as a staple food for many households, providing an affordable source of carbohydrates. Yellow corn, conversely, is primarily utilized in the animal feed sector, forming the main component of most feed formulations, particularly in the broiler industry. Animal feed manufacturers in the country rely heavily on corn as a key raw material.
Human consumption of corn in South Africa has been steadily increasing, driven by population growth and immigration from neighboring southern African countries. According to the South Africa Grain Information Services (SAGIS), maize consumption reached 11.7 million metric tons in the 2023-2024 marketing year, representing a 3.5% increase from the previous year. This upward trend is anticipated to continue during the forecast period, influenced by growing pressure on consumer spending and an unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent, as reported in the USDA Grain and Feed Annual Report 2024.
Animal feed production in South Africa incorporates various agricultural raw materials, with inclusion rates varying across formulations and animal species. Corn remains a crucial ingredient in this sector. The Animal Feed Manufacturers Association of South Africa reported that from April 2023 to February 2024, the volume of raw materials used in feed production included 3,153,375 metric tons of corn products, 7,336 metric tons of fishmeal, and 1,269,128 metric tons of oilcake.

Expanding Export Market
South Africa is a significant exporter of maize, particularly to neighboring countries. International demand provides a market outlet for excess production. With the growing demand for protein meals and the increasing demand from the biofuel sector, the demand for maize has further increased significantly in the international market over recent years. The country's exports of maize are increasing year on year. For instance, according to the ITC Trade Map, the country exported 3.9 million metric tons of maize in 2023 which is 6.5% more than the previous year's export volume of 3.7 million metric tons. The major importers are Taipei, South Korea, Japan, and Zimbabwe.
South Africa exports both white corn and yellow corn, in which yellow corn occupies a major share in the maize export volume in comparison to white corn. As yellow corn is used in animal feed, many countries import this yellow corn from South Africa. For instance, in the marketing year 2023-2024 (March to May), the country exported 3.0 million metric tons of which 67.6% is yellow corn and 32.4% is white corn. The major importers of white corn are Zimbabwe and Botswana, while the major importers of yellow corn are South Korea and Japan as reported by South Africa Grain Information Services (SAGIS). Hence the rising production of maize in South Africa accompanied with strong international demand is anticipated to catalyze the maize exports during forecasted years.
