MAIZE  #Africa Maize Updates

Driven by rising demand for maize oil in Africa, the market is expected to start an upward consumption trend over the next decade. The performance of the market is forecast to increase slightly, with an anticipated CAGR of +1.1% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 336K tons by the end of 2035. In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +4.6% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $699M (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s trade surplus has fallen sharply, dropping by R34 billion (US$1.89 billion) in a single quarter, largely due to weaker mining outputs and a notable decline in maize exports, according to the latest figures from the South African Reserve Bank’s balance of payments report.

Zimbabwe has recently reinstated a maize import ban (end of August 2025), citing a bumper harvest which has made the country largely self‑sufficient for its milling/corn demand.

NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) on behalf of BSPB (British Society of Plant Breeders) published the 2026 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists. Twelve new maize varieties have been added to the 2026 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists. These are split across lists for “Favourable First Choice”, “Favourable Second Choice”, and “First Choice for Less Favourable sites”.