Record Corn Crop Expected in South Africa Despite Rising Costs

South Africa is on track to harvest its biggest corn crop ever, according to estimates from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. The FAS expects a record 17.9 million tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing season.

The area planted with corn remains unchanged at 3 million hectares due to advancements in seed genetics and farming methods, while production is expected to decrease slightly to 16.3 million tonnes for the 2026-27 season.

Farmers are facing rising input costs partly due to the Middle East conflict, which has increased local prices for fertilizer and fuel, squeezing potential profits. The FAS also noted that predictions of a possible El Nino weather pattern raise the likelihood of a drier-than-normal summer, introducing significant agronomic risk.