Zim takes lion’s share of SA maize exports

SOUTH Africa’s maize exports provided a crucial buffer against a supply crisis in the southern Africa region with Zimbabwe emerging as the top recipient, receiving 57% of the neighbouring country’s maize exports — approximately 1,3 million tonnes, a new report has revealed.

The maize exports from South Africa followed a challenging production year for the region marked by an El Niño-induced drought.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the 2023/24 El Niño a caused significant drought, resulting in the worst mid-season dry spell in over 100 years and pushing nearly 29 million people into alarming levels of hunger.

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