World Grain - January 2025 - 14
COUNTRY FOCUS
KEY FACTS
FOCUS ON
SOUTH AFRICA
Faced with smallest corn crop in
five years, nation permits GE corn
by Susan Reidy
Faced with a 22% drop in domestic corn production and its smallest
crop in five years, South Africa issued permits to allow for the import
of genetically engineered corn from the United States.
Corn imports for 2023-24 were estimated at 800,000 tonnes to
make up for the shortfall of the 13.3-million-tonne crop, according
to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US
Department of Agriculture. An El NiƱo-induced mid-summer drought
and excessive heat during the crucial vegetative and flowering stages
for corn reduced the yield potential, the FAS said.
Given the high cost of transportation from areas of production, it
could be cheaper to import corn into southern ports than to transport
domestic crops to millers and feed manufacturers in the southern and
western coastal areas, the FAS said.
The nation also will import 6% more wheat in 2023-24 as local
demand outpaces production. Wheat is the second most important
grain commodity consumed at 56 kg per person after corn (95 kg per
person).
Overall, South Africa's agriculture sector is extremely diverse compared
to other countries in the sub-Saharan African region, according
to the International Trade Administration (ITA). This diversity
is due to the climate that ranges from dry
and arid to the Mediterranean in the west and
sub-tropical on the east coast.
While grains, including barley, corn,
oats, sorghum and wheat, contribute
more than 30% in total agricultural
product, South Africa also produces
oilseeds, fruits, sugar, citrus,
nuts and most vegetables. Compared
to the rest of Africa, the
nation has the most modern and
productive agricultural economy,
the ITA said.
Animal feed is an important
part of the grain supply chain, with
about 6 million tonnes of grain and
1.6 million tonnes of oil cake used by
the animal feed manufacturing industry
per year.
14
Capital: Pretoria
Population: 60,442,647
Religions: Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist,
or other traditional African religions 5.4%,
Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, none 5.2% (2015 est.)
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip
of the continent of Africa
Government: Parliamentary republic. Chief
of state and head of government: President
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (since June 19,
2024).
Economy: South Africa has the largest economy
on the African continent and is an uppermiddle-income
emerging market with a strong
focus on mining and manufacturing. Increasingly
severe domestic constraints, alongside
slowing global demand, led to GDP growth
falling to just 0.7% in 2023, from 1.9% in 2022.
Mining production contracted while manufacturing
production edged higher, with the services
sectors (financial, transport and personal)
and domestic trade serving as key drivers of
growth. It faces significant challenges, including
high unemployment, income inequality
and persistent electricity shortages that have
led to sluggish economic growth in recent
years. Energy supply did stabilize in 2024. The
nation had rolling scheduled power cuts starting
in 2007 and intensifying in 2022. The cumulated
duration of the outages was equivalent
to 289 days in 2023, increasing operating
costs for businesses. The GDP recovered to
pre-pandemic levels, but it was hindered by
infrastructure bottlenecks and low productivity.
The pace of job creation has not kept up
with the growing labor force, resulting in rising
unemployment. Inequality is among the highest
in the world and poverty was estimated at
62.6% in 2023. Following national elections in
May 2024, a government of national unity was
formed with a focus on constitutionalism, economic
recovery, workers' rights, social protection
and equity. Agriculture is a key part of the
economy, production a significant portion of
exports and contributes to the economy, especially
as an employer.
GDP per capita: $14,300 (2023); inflation:
6.07% (2023 est.); unemployment: 27.99%
(2023 est.).
Currency: South African rand (ZAR); 18.10
South African rands equal 1 US dollar (Dec. 18,
2024).
Exports: $124.731 billion (2023 est.): gold,
platinum, coal, cars, diamonds (2022).
Imports: $123.541 billion (2023 est.): refined
petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, vehicle
parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment
(2022).
Agriculture: 2.57% of GDP (2022) and 19.26%
of the labor force (2022).
Internet: Code: .za; 42.48 million (2021 est.).
January 2025 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
Source : CIA World Factbook/World Bank/International Trade Administration
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - January 2025
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - January 2025
World Grain - January 2025 - Intro
World Grain - January 2025 - 1
World Grain - January 2025 - 2
World Grain - January 2025 - 3
World Grain - January 2025 - 4
World Grain - January 2025 - 5
World Grain - January 2025 - 6
World Grain - January 2025 - 7
World Grain - January 2025 - 8
World Grain - January 2025 - 9
World Grain - January 2025 - 10
World Grain - January 2025 - 11
World Grain - January 2025 - 12
World Grain - January 2025 - 13
World Grain - January 2025 - 14
World Grain - January 2025 - 15
World Grain - January 2025 - 16
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World Grain - January 2025 - 18
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World Grain - January 2025 - 20
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http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_11_01
http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_10_02
http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_10_02
http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_10_01
http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_09_01
http://digital.world-grain.com/sosland/wg/2004_08_01
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com