Month: November 2018

The commercial wheat crop of the 2017/18 season was set at 1,535 million tons, which is 375 000 tons (19,6%) lower than the previous season’s crop and also 16% lower than the ten-year production average of 1 826 800 tons (2007/08 to 2016/17 seasons).

Wheat contributed 79% to the total winter cereal crop production in South Africa during the 2017/18 production season. The Southern African Grain Laboratory NPC (SAGL) received and analysed 304 samples to provide as best possible a proportional representation of the production of wheat in all the different production regions.

South Africa is a net importer of wheat and relies on imports to supply local demand. During the 2016/17
season 934 765 tons of wheat were imported for local use. This figure constitutes an almost 55% decrease compared to the severe drought stricken 2015/16 season.