South Africa poised for record summer crop harvest despite late rains

Crop Estimates Committee area planted estimate and fourth production forecast for summer crops for 2025 released on Friday indicated that they are expecting a good harvest for the 2024/2025 season despite challenges of late rains


As the agricultural landscape in South Africa prepares for the 2024/2025 summer season, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has revealed promising estimates that signal a potentially fruitful harvest.

Released on Friday, the report highlights significant increases in expected yields for key crops such as maize, soybeans, and dry beans, despite the challenges posed by late rains across many regions. The CEC's projected commercial maize crop stands at a robust 14.644 million tons, which is an impressive 13.96% or 1.794 million tons larger than the previous year's yield.

The majority of this production is expected to come from South Africa’s core maize-producing provinces: the Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West, which together are anticipated to contribute a staggering 81% of the total crop.