Maize surplus forecast cut sharply

Poor rains have lowered the crop forecast for this year, with Grain SA predicting that a significantly reduced maize surplus of just 1-million tons — a quarter of what farmers produced last year — could affect food prices.

With maize yields also expected to be lower this year in the US and China, global demand could put pressure on food prices. Already, Chinese buyers have been in SA to explore the possibility of importing crops, including maize.