Maize
Maize Representation
Grain SA personnel and executive members represent producers at various industry forums affecting the maize industry, including the Maize Forum; Maize Forum Steering Committee, Agriculture- and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) representation and the JSE Advisory Committee.
Harvesting & Planting
Maize Meal
Animal Feed
Average Annual Production* = 15,25m tons
* Average production between 2019/2020 to 2023/2024 production seasons (5 years)
MAIZE
Focus Areas
Market Transparency
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Improvement of market information through reporting import and export intentions, 8 weeks before physical shipment, resulting in market transparency affecting supply and demand.
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Increased market transparency through reporting of weekly maize deliveries per grade as well as the stock levels per grade, per month.
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“Commitment of Traders report” to provide insight, on positions the different groups of market role players hold in, and their impact on the market. Feedback from JSE legal awaited.
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Calculation and publication of derived producer prices together with parity prices.
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Monitoring the market by evaluating new season location differentials.
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Advising of the development of the basis futures market for grains in South Africa.
Market Expansion
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Conversing with policy makers to expand local demand such as biofuels (soybeans & grain sorghum) and usage of maize for bioplastic production.
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Continuously supporting growth opportunities within the animal feed market to grow local demand (such as exports of poultry and red meat).
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Access to additional international markets, including opening of markets for exports to the Middle East, including Egypt, China, Korea, Iran & Vietnam which require drafting and implementation of protocols and permits critical for commencement of trading. Other new export markets include Albania; Portugal; Honduras; Guatemala; Seychelles and Spain. Additionally, markets are being explored for popcorn maize.
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Increased exports to some major importing countries such as Mexico and China.
Optimal Funtioning Of The Local Market
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Continuous improvement of the current location differential calculation.
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Develop, together with academia, an alternative differential system that is currently being tested on soybeans for a trail period until the 2026/2027 marketing year.
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Implement definition changes in the maize grading regulations to remove grey areas. This includes removing discoloured maize and water damaged maize as defective kernels from the regulations – Government Gazette published new grading regulation regarding water damaged and discoloured maize kernels no longer being considered as defective kernels.
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Grain SA working closely with other industry role players to improve the rail and ports infrastructure.
Cultivar Trails
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Grain SA, SANSOR and various seed companies formed a consortium to conduct maize cultivar evaluation trials.
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Provide producers with independent, unbiased and scientifically accurate information on the performance and adaptability of maize cultivars.