Zimbabwe leads as top buyer of South African maize exports

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has sent most of its maize exports for the 2025 to 2026 marketing year to African countries, with Zimbabwe taking the lead as the largest buyer.

Zimbabwe has accounted for 38 percent of South Africa’s maize exports so far, showing steady demand from a close regional partner. This trend has helped maintain strong trade flows within the continent, even as global market conditions shift.

Buyers in Asia, including Vietnam, Taiwan and South Korea, have reduced their purchases this season. These countries turned to other global suppliers that offered larger volumes at lower prices. As a result, South Africa has relied more on nearby markets to move its maize.

This shift reflects changes in global supply. Large harvests in other regions have increased competition and pushed prices down, making it harder for South African maize to compete in distant markets. At the same time, demand in Southern Africa has remained firm, driven by food needs and supply gaps in some countries.

Zimbabwe’s strong demand has supported export volumes and helped stabilize trade for South African producers. The close trade link between the two countries continues to play a key role in the regional grain market.

At the same time, South Africa faces new risks in its maize sector. The Department of Agriculture has raised concern over the spread of Goss’s Wilt, a bacterial disease that affects maize crops. Officials first recorded the disease in 2024 in four provinces. By 2025, it had spread to more regions, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Western Cape. KwaZulu Natal remains the only province with no reported cases.

Authorities continue to work with research groups and industry partners to manage the disease. Teams are collecting samples to improve testing and tracking. Researchers are also studying maize varieties that can better resist the disease.

The government has set rules to limit the spread. These rules restrict the movement of plant material and farming equipment from affected areas. Farmers also face advice to clean equipment well, as machinery can carry the disease between fields.

These developments show that while export demand remains steady in Africa, production risks at home could affect future supply.

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