Regardless of the instability of world production, there are strong reasons to feel optimistic about grocery prices
South Africa may well need to consider new sources of rice imports
Sales are likely to slow going into 2024 because of rising interest rates, the rand/dollar exchange rate and lower grain and soybean prices
The widening trade surplus is mainly a result of a notable decline in import value, not necessarily a growth in exports
The prices of cereals, meat, fish, fruit oils and fats will moderate but the rand/dollar exchange rate remains a risk
It will be two to three months before there’s a better understanding of the weather outlook and effect on the next season’s yield
The agricultural quarterly gross value-added figures tend to be quite volatile, hence the focus on annual performance
The outlook on food products prices will remain mixed, despite the recent broad increase in products prices.
The devastation in the province holds minimal risks to food security, in the near term at least
The maize yield is above the 10-year average even though the area planted is lower than last year