SOUTH Africa’s 2000/01 commercial maize crop is seen at 7,225-million tons versus last year’s 10,1-million tons, the national Crop Estimates Committee said on Monday in its final summer crop data. South African maize supplies will be stretched to the limits, some market players say, because the country is seen as a key supplier to the region where crops have been battered by political strife and adverse weather. South Africa produced a bumper 10,1-million tons of maize last season against domestic consumption of about 7,5-million tons. White maize is a staple in human diets and yellow maize is used mainly for animal feed. The 2000/01 sunflower crop was unchanged at 638,320 tons. Grain SA said there will be a heavy reliance on the early harvest from the next crop and that plantings could start a little earlier than normal. – Reuters
Monday, August 20, 2001