South Africa's May 2010-April 2011 maize harvest fell nearly 20 percent from the previous season, in line with market expectations, due to unfavourable weather conditions, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) said on Thursday.
South Africa reaped 10.36 million tonnes of maize in the 2010/11 season, compared with the previous year's harvest of 12.815 million tonnes.
The crop was lower than the committee's final forecast of 10.608 million tonnes and largely in line with traders' estimates of 10.3 million tonnes, according to a Reuters poll.
The CEC said unpredictable weather patterns affected the crop.
“In some areas there have been prolonged dry spells, followed by unpredictable rainy periods, which contributed to yield losses for most of the crops, as well as harvesting difficulties,” the committee said in a statement.
The CEC usually bases its survey on actual deliveries of maize from farms to silos and maize retained on farms, which was not submitted to the official silos.
Data from the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) showed that farmers had brought 9.515 million tonnes of maize to market by the week of November 25.
The CEC said in October farmers intend to cultivate more land in the 2011/12 season due to higher prices driven up by strong export demand and supply shortages concerns.
South Africa, which is Africa's biggest maize producer, has managed to attract new buyers from outside Africa like South Korea, Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Portugal and Venezuela.
But the industry now fears that most of the maize has been committed for exports, leaving the country with less for its local consumption.
The most active December white maize futures contract , which has gained nearly 90 percent so far this year, closed 0.49 percent lower at 2,440 rand ($300) a tonne on Thursday.
Yellow maize for delivery in the same month, up 73 percent year-to-date, ended up 0.92 percent to 2,422 rand a tonne. - Reuters