South African Maize Harvest Decline: 19% Less Predicted for 2023/2024

South African farmers are projected to harvest 19% less maize in the 2023/2024 season, totaling 13.31 million metric tons, according to the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC). This marks a decrease from the 16.43 million metric tons harvested the previous season. The forecast includes 6.34 million tons of white maize and 6.97 million tons of yellow maize.

South African farmers are expected to harvest 19% less maize in the 2023/2024 season compared with the previous one, the government's Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) said on Tuesday. The CEC's fourth summer crop forecast estimated the 2024 harvest at 13.31 million metric tons, down from the 16.43 million harvested the season before. The previous estimate on April 25 put the 2024 maize harvest at 13.39 million tons.

The harvest is expected to consist of 6.34 million tons of white maize, for human consumption, and 6.97 million tons of yellow maize, used mainly in animal feed.