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South Africa’s summer crop bigwigs remain optimistic that most of the country’s summer field crops will be slightly higher than last year’s figures if all goes well. This was revealed when the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) published its latest area-planted and fourth production forecast for 2025 that was released on Tuesday afternoon.
Maize
The size of the expected commercial maize crop has been set at 14,644 million tonnes, which is 19 850 tonnes (0,14%) less than the previous forecast of 14,664 million tonnes. The expected average yield for maize is 5,64 t/ha.
However, the estimated maize crop is still 13,96% or 1,794 million tonnes larger than the 2024 crop. The three main maize-producing areas, namely the Free State, Mpumalanga, and Northwest provinces are expected to produce 81% of the 2025 crop.
The production forecast of white maize is 7,648 million tonnes, which is 108 250 tonnes (1,4%) less than the 7,757 million tonnes of the previous forecast. The area estimate for white maize is 1,6 million ha and the expected yield is 4,78 t/ha.
In the case of yellow maize, the production forecast is 6,996 million tonnes. This is 1,28% or 88 400 tonnes more than the 6,907 million tonnes of the previous forecast. The area estimate for yellow maize is 997 000 ha and the yield is 7,02 t/ha.
The yield per ha for the Free State and Northwest provinces were mainly based on scientific and objective results provided by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).
Sunflower
The production forecast for sunflower seed is 727 800 tonnes, which is 2,02% or 15 000 tonnes less than the previous forecast of 742 800 tonnes. The area estimate for sunflower seed is 555 700 ha, while the expected yield is 1,31 t/ha.
Soya beans
The production forecast for soya beans remained unchanged at 2,331 million tonnes. The estimated area planted to soya beans is 1,151 million ha, with an expected yield of 2,03 t/ha.
Groundnut
The expected groundnut crop has been set at 63 510 tonnes, which is 1,68% or 1 085 tonnes less than the previous forecast of 64 595 tonnes. For groundnuts, the area estimate is 48 125 ha, with an expected yield of 1,32 t/ha.
Sorghum
The production forecast for sorghum remained unchanged at 137 970 tonnes. The area estimate for sorghum is 41 150 ha and the expected yield is 3,35 t/ha.
Dry beans
In the case of dry beans,the production forecast increased by 1,24% or 875 tonnes, from 70 540 tonnes to 71 415 tonnes. The area estimate of dry beans is 45 620 ha, with an expected yield of 1,57 t/ha.
Non-commercial crops
The area planted to maize in the non-commercial agricultural sector is estimated at 358 000 ha, which represents an increase of 3,17% compared to the 347 000 ha of the previous season. The expected maize crop for this sector is 621 500 tonnes, which is 8,09% more than the 575 000 tonnes of last season. It is important to note that about 46,75% of the maize produced in the non-commercial sector, is planted in the Eastern Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 20,88%, and then Limpopo with 20,65%.
The fifth production forecast of summer field crops for 2025 will be released on 27 June 2025. – Press release, CEC
