| Area: | 1.22 million sq.km |
| Climate: | Sub-tropical with rains concentrated in the summer months (November-April); occasional snow in winter over higher parts of plateau and Cape ranges; an average of 120 days frost in the interior plateau |
| Population: | 40.55 million (1995 estimate); GNP per caput U.S.$ 2 902 (1993) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Normally net food exporter, notably maize |
| Logistics: | Adequate port, rail and road facilities |
| Major foodcrops: | Maize, wheat |
| Marketing year: | May/April; Lean season: February-April |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 54 percent |
CURRENT SITUATION
Widespread rains across the corn belt through October provided timely moisture for planting maize for the 1995/96 season. Good soaking rains in November over maize growing areas encouraged larger plantings Abundant rains were also received in the north and east states and in the former eastern Transvaal. Heavy rains continued through December but also resulted in over 150 deaths, mostly in Kwazulu Natal, as well as substantial damage to dams and property.
Following the poor 1994/95 cereal crop, South Africa needs to import some 800 000 tons of maize, mainly white maize, in 1995/96 to meet its domestic shortfall. The winter wheat being harvested is now estimated at 2.3 million tons, well above last year's output of 1.8 million tons.
CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Normal production | 1 835 | 2 | 8 830 | 10 667 |
| Normal exports | 434 | 367 | 1 717 | 2 518 |
| of which: Structural food aid | - | - | - | - |
| 1995/96 Domestic availability | 2 214 | 14 | 7 529 | 9 757 |
| 1995 Production | 2 164 | 2 | 5 422 | 7 588 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 50 | 12 | 2 107 | 2 169 |
| 1995/96 Utilization | 2 514 | 496 | 8 444 | 11 454 |
| Food use | 2 300 | 476 | 4 389 | 7 165 |
| Non-food use | 104 | 20 | 3 833 | 3 957 |
| Re-exports and exports | 110 | - | 222 | 332 |
| 1995/96 Import Requirement | 300 | 482 | 915 | 1 697 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 300 | 482 | 915 | 1 697 |
| Donor-financed purchases for export | - | - | 68 | 68 |
| Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year) | 56 | 11 | 106 | 173 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1995 production as % of normal: | 71 | |||
| 1995/96 exports as % of normal: | 13 | |||