Browse Data and Analysis

After last season’s second consecutive bumper corn crop, the positive outlook for the South African grain industry will continue in the 2021/22 MY as evidenced by a 30 percent upsurge in tractor sales and the intention of commercial producers to maintain a corn area of 2.7 million hectares.

Post estimates that the sugar cane crop will fall by 2 percent to 17.9 million MT in the 2021/22 MY, based on cane that was burnt and rejected by sugar mills during the civil unrest and protests in KwaZulu-Natal, frost damage in some growing areas in June 2021, and some growers diversifying to more profitable crops.

According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), South Africa’s food service sector generated revenues valued at US $3 billion in 2020, down 32 percent from 2019.

All the sections of the Report have been updated to comply with the new reporting instructions, website links and contacts.

All the sections of the report have been updated based on recent amendments to regulations, updated website links and to comply with the updated reporting instructions.

On May 28, 2021, an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle was confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Post forecasts that chicken meat production will increase by five percent in 2022 on industry investment and lowered input costs.

Days after the Port of Durban resumed operations after a period of civil unrest brought the terminal to a standstill, South Africa’s state-owned port, rail, and pipeline authority, Transnet, announced that a cyber-attack had again crippled the flow of goods in and out of the country.

Post forecasts that raisin production will rebound to normal levels and increase by 19 percent to 85,000 Metric Tons (MT) in the 2021/22 MY, based on normal weather conditions, an increase in area planted, new orchards coming into full production, an improvement in yields due to new varieties and production practices, wine grapes being diverted for raisin production,

On July 25, 2021, South Africa partially lifted the prohibition on the domestic transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages.

South Africa should remain a net exporter of corn in the 2021/22 marketing year (MY) on excess supplies.

Areas within two South African provinces have been plunged into violent civil unrest following protests on the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma on July 8, 2021.