3rd summer crops forecast & Intentions to plant winter cereals: 30/04/2025

Third production forecast for summer crops and intentions to plant winter cereals (2025)
Derde produksieskatting vir somergewasse en voorneme om wintergewasse te plant (2025)

Summer crops / Somergewasse
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Crop / Gewas Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Second forecast
Tweede skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final crop
Finale oes
Change
Verandering
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024
Ha Tons Tons Ha Tons %
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (B) ÷ (C)
Commercial / Kommersieël
  White maize / Witmielies 1 599 700 7 756 700 7 695 200 1 554 750 6 055 000 0.80
  Yellow maize / Geelmielies 997 000 6 907 100 6 863 400 1 081 500 6 795 000 0.64
Total Maize / Totale Mielies 2 596 700 14 663 800 14 558 600 2 636 250 12 850 000 0.72
Sunflower seed / Sonneblomsaad 555 700 742 800 770 500 529 000 632 000 3.60
Soybeans / Sojabone 1 151 000 2 330 975 2 389 925 1 150 500 1 848 000 -2.47
Groundnuts / Grondbone 48 125 64 595 66 929 41 200 52 000 -3.49
Sorghum 41 150 137 970 137 435 42 100 98 000 0.39
Dry beans / Droëbone 45 620 70 540 79 007 39 550 50 495 -10.72
Total / Totaal 4 438 295 18 010 680 18 002 396 4 438 600 15 530 495 0.05
Non-commercial Maize / Nie-kommersiële Mielies
Total maize / Totaal mielies 358 000 621 500 N/A 347 000 575 000 N/A
Maize / Mielies: Commercial / Kommersieël + Non-commercial / Nie-kommersieël
Total maize RSA / Totaal mielies RSA 2 954 700 15 285 300 N/A 2 983 250 13 425 000 N/A

Note:  Estimate is for calendar year, for example production season 2024/2025 = 2025
Nota:  Skatting is vir kalenderjaar, byvoorbeeld produksie-seisoen 2024/2025 = 2025

Total maize / Totale mielies
Production   2015-2025   Produksie
Graph of the total maize production from 2015 to 2025
Sunflower seed / Sonneblomsaad
Production   2015-2025   Produksie
Graph of sunflower seed production from 2015 to 2025
Soybeans / Sojabone
Production   2015-2025   Produksie
Graph of soybean production from 2015 to 2025
White and Yellow maize / Wit- en Geelmielies
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final crop
Finale oes
2025 2025 2024 2024
White
Wit
Yellow
Geel
Total
Totaal
White
Wit
Yellow
Geel
Total
Totaal
White
Wit
Yellow
Geel
Total
Totaal
White
Wit
Yellow
Geel
Total
Totaal
Ha Tons Ha Tons
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap
200 3 500 3 700 1 900 32 900 34 800 250 3 500 3 750 2 300 32 200 34 500
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap
1 500 42 000 43 500 18 750 651 000 669 750 1 500 42 000 43 500 18 900 648 900 667 800
Free State / Vrystaat
850 000 345 000 1 195 000 3 952 500 1 983 750 5 936 250 835 000 415 000 1 250 000 3 385 000 1 992 000 5 377 000
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap
6 000 28 000 34 000 41 400 210 000 251 400 6 000 27 000 33 000 40 800 191 700 232 500
KwaZulu-Natal
50 000 66 000 116 000 305 000 561 000 866 000 47 000 67 000 114 000 286 700 576 200 862 900
Mpumalanga
162 000 362 000 524 000 1 004 400 2 497 800 3 502 200 160 000 360 000 520 000 984 000 2 490 000 3 474 000
Limpopo
10 000 18 500 28 500 69 000 149 850 218 850 11 000 15 000 26 000 74 800 120 000 194 800
Gauteng
55 000 57 000 112 000 341 000 393 300 734 300 54 000 62 000 116 000 292 500 415 500 708 000
North West / Noordwes
465 000 75 000 540 000 2 022 750 427 500 2 450 250 440 000 90 000 530 000 970 000 328 500 1 298 500
Total / Totaal
1 599 700 997 000 2 596 700 7 756 700 6 907 100 14 663 800 1 554 750 1 081 500 2 636 250 6 055 000 6 795 000 12 850 000
Sunflower seed / Sonneblomsaad
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Province / Provinsie Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale oes
Ha Tons Ha Tons
2025 2025 2024 2024
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 0 0 0 0
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 1 000 2 300 2 000 4 600
Free State / Vrystaat 264 500 383 525 255 000 354 000
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 700 1 400 700 1 400
KwaZulu-Natal 1 000 2 000 300 600
Mpumalanga 2 500 3 625 3 500 4 900
Limpopo 90 000 85 500 90 000 63 000
Gauteng 1 000 1 200 2 500 3 000
North West / Noordwes 195 000 263 250 175 000 200 500
Total / Totaal 555 700 742 800 529 000 632 000
Soybeans / Sojabone
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Province / Provinsie Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale oes
Ha Tons Ha Tons
2025 2025 2024 2024
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 0 0 0 0
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 2 000 7 000 1 200 4 380
Free State / Vrystaat 565 000 1 101 750 545 000 688 960
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 5 500 15 675 5 300 14 310
KwaZulu-Natal 47 000 173 900 47 000 173 900
Mpumalanga 315 000 598 500 320 000 624 000
Limpopo 16 500 51 150 21 000 72 450
Gauteng 52 000 109 200 56 000 84 000
North West / Noordwes 148 000 273 800 155 000 186 000
Total / Totaal 1 151 000 2 330 975 1 150 500 1 848 000
Groundnuts / Grondbone
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Province / Provinsie Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale oes
Ha Tons Ha Tons
2025 2025 2024 2024
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 0 0 0 0
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 3 100 8 525 4 200 8 610
Free State / Vrystaat 21 700 30 380 17 000 26 305
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 0 0 0 0
KwaZulu-Natal 175 228 300 495
Mpumalanga 0 0 0 0
Limpopo 1 650 2 888 1 700 4 590
Gauteng 0 0 0 0
North West / Noordwes 21 500 22 575 18 000 12 000
Total / Totaal 48 125 64 595 41 200 52 000
Dry beans / Droëbone
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Province / Provinsie Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale oes
Ha Tons Ha Tons
2025 2025 2024 2024
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 100 200 100 220
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 950 2 185 500 900
Free State / Vrystaat 17 500 21 000 13 500 10 800
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 200 400 200 440
KwaZulu-Natal 3 000 3 900 2 100 2 730
Mpumalanga 2 320 4 060 2 600 4 680
Limpopo 11 100 23 310 12 200 23 790
Gauteng 950 1 235 850 935
North West / Noordwes 9 500 14 250 7 500 6 000
Total / Totaal 45 620 70 540 39 550 50 495
Sorghum
Area planted and third production forecast  2025  Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting
Province / Provinsie Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Third forecast
Derde skatting
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale oes
Ha Tons Ha Tons
2025 2025 2024 2024
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 0 0 0 0
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 0 0 0 0
Free State / Vrystaat 12 800 44 800 11 500 19 740
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 200 600 100 300
KwaZulu-Natal 100 380 100 350
Mpumalanga 9 200 43 240 8 300 36 520
Limpopo 13 000 30 550 18 000 35 100
Gauteng 850 3 400 100 390
North West / Noordwes 5 000 15 000 4 000 5 600
Total / Totaal 41 150 137 970 42 100 98 000

Summer crops / Somergewasse
Area estimate and third production forecast (2025) Oppervlakte- en derde produksieskatting

Summer field crops – 2025

Commercial maize

TThe size of the expected commercial maize crop has been set at 14,664 million tons, which is 0,72% or 105 200 tons more than the previous forecast of 14,559 million tons. The expected yield for maize is 5,65 t/ha.

The estimated maize crop is 14,12% or 1,814 million tons larger than the 2024 crop. The three main maize producing areas, namely the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces are expected to produce 81% of the 2025 crop.

The production forecast of white maize is 7,757 million tons, which is 0,80% or 61 500 tons more than the 7,695 million tons of the previous forecast. The area estimate for white maize is 1 600 million ha and the expected yield is 4,85 t/ha.

In the case of yellow maize, the production forecast is 6,907 million tons, which is 0,64% or 43 700 tons more than the 6,863 million tons of the previous forecast. The area estimate for yellow maize is 997 000 ha and the yield is 6,93 t/ha.

The yield per ha for the Mpumalanga province was based on scientific and objective results provided by the ARC. Please note that the objective results for the Free State and North West provinces will be available in May 2025.

Other summer crops

Sunflower seed: The production forecast for sunflower seed is 742 800 tons, which is 3,60% or 27 700 tons less than the previous forecast of 770 500 tons. The area estimate for sunflower seed is 555 700 ha, while the expected yield is 1,34 t/ha.

Other crops

The production forecast for soybeans decreased by 2,47% or 58 950 tons from 2,390 million tons to 2,331 million tons. The esti­mated area planted to soybeans is 1,151 million ha, with an ex­pected yield of 2,03 t/ha.

The expected groundnut crop has been set at 64 595 tons, which is 3,49% or 2 334 tons less than the previous forecast of 66 929 tons. For groundnuts, the area estimate is 48 125 ha, with an expected yield of 1,34 t/ha.

The production forecast for sorghum is 137 970 tons, which is 0,39% or 535 tons more than the 137 435 tons of the previous forecast. The area estimate for sorghum is 41 150 ha and the expected yield is 3,35 t/ha.

In the case of dry beans, the production forecast decreased by 10,72% or 8 467 tons, from 79 007 tons to 70 540 tons. The area estimate of dry beans is 45 620 ha, with an expected yield of 1,55 t/ha.


Please note that the fourth production forecast for summer field crops for 2025 will be released on 27 May 2025.

Information is available online at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development or SAGIS, as from 14:30 on the date of the relevant meeting of the Crop Estimates Committee.

Somergewasse – 2025

Kommersiële mielies

Die grootte van die verwagte kommersiële mielie-oes is op 14,664 miljoen ton gestel, wat 0,72% of 105 200 ton meer is as die vorige skatting van 14,559 miljoen ton. Die verwagte opbrengs van mielies is 5,65 t/ha.

Die geskatte mielie-oes is 14,12% of 1,814 miljoen ton meer as die 2024-oes. Die drie belangrikste mielieproduserende gebiede, naamlik die Vrystaat, Mpumalanga en Noordwes provinsies, gaan na verwagting 81% van die 2025-oes produseer.

Die produksieskatting van witmielies is 7,757 miljoen ton, wat 0,80% of 61 500 ton meer is as die 7,695 miljoen ton van die vorige skatting. Die oppervlakteskatting vir witmielies is 1,600 miljoen ha en die verwagte opbrengs is 4,85 t/ha.

In die geval van geelmielies is die produksieskatting 6,907 mil­joen ton, wat 0,64% of 43 700 ton meer is as die 6,863 miljoen ton van die vorige skatting. Die oppervlakteskatting vir geelmielies is 997 000 ha en die opbrengs is 6,93 t/ha.

Die opbrengs-bepaling per ha vir die Mpumalanga provinsie is gebaseer op wetenskaplike en objektiewe resultate verstrek deur die LNR. Neem kennis dat die objektiewe resultate vir die Vrystaat en Noordwes provinsies, in Mei 2025 gerapporteer sal word.

Ander somergewasse

Sonneblomsaad: Die produksieskatting vir sonneblomsaad is 742 800 ton, wat 3,60% of 27 700 ton minder is as die vorige skatting van 770 500 ton. Die oppervlakteskatting vir sonneblomsaad is 555 700 ha, terwyl die verwagte opbrengs 1,34 t/ha is.

Ander gewasse

Die produksieskatting van sojabone is verlaag met 2,47% of 58 950 ton, van 2,390 miljoen ton na 2,331 miljoen ton. Die geskatte oppervlakte beplant van sojabone is 1,151 miljoen ha, met 'n verwagte opbrengs van 2,03 t/ha.

Die verwagte grondbone-oes is op 64 595 ton gestel, wat 3,49% of 2 334 ton minder is as die vorige skatting van 66 929 ton. Vir grondbone is die oppervlakteskatting 48 125 ha, terwyl die verwagte opbrengs 1,34 t/ha is.

Die produksieskatting van sorghum is 137 970 ton, wat 0,39% of 535 ton meer is as die 137 435 ton van die vorige skatting. Die oppervlakteskatting vir sorghum is 41 150 ha, en die verwagte opbrengs is 3,35 t/ha.

In die geval van droëbone is die produksieskatting verlaag met 10,72% of 8 467 ton, vanaf 79 007 ton na 70 540 ton. Die oppervlakte beplant met droëbone is 45 620 ha, en die verwagte opbrengs is 1,55 t/ha.


Neem asseblief kennis dat die vierde produksieskatting vir somer­gewasse vir 2025, op 27 Mei 2025 vrygestel sal word.

Inligting is beskikbaar aanlyn by die Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of by SAGIS, vanaf 14:30 op die dag van die toepaslike vergadering van die Oesskattings­komitee.

Non-commercial maize / Nie-kommersiële mielies
Preliminary area planted and production estimate  2025  Voorlopige oppervlakte- en produksieskatting
Crop / Gewas Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Production
Produksie
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final crop
Finale oes
Change
Verandering
2025 2025 2024 2024
Ha Tons Ha Tons %
(A) (B) (C) (D) (B) ÷ (D)
Non-commercial agriculture / Nie-kommersiële landbou
  White maize / Witmielies 275 150 439 700 267 570 407 500 +7.90
  Yellow maize / Geelmielies 82 850 181 800 79 430 167 500 +8.54
Maize / Mielies 358 000 621 500 347 000 575 000 +8.09

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 tons, which is 8,09% more than the 575 000 tons 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%.

Die voorlopige oppervlakte beplant met mielies in die nie-kommersiële landbou-sektor word geskat op 358 000 ha, wat 'n toename van 3,17% verteenwoordig in vergelyking met die 347 000 ha van die vorige seisoen. Die verwagte mielie-oes van dié sektor is 621 500 ton, wat 8,09% meer is as die 575 000 ton van die vorige seisoen. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat ongeveer 46,75% van die mielies wat geproduseer word in die nie-kommersiële sektor, in die Oos-Kaap geplant word, gevolg deur KwaZulu-Natal met 20,88% en dan Limpopo met 20,65%.

Non-commercial maize / Nie-kommersiële mielies
Area   2000-2025   Oppervlakte
Area planted to non-commercial maize: 2000-2025 graph
Non-commercial maize / Nie-kommersiële mielies
Production   2000-2025   Produksie
Production of non-commercial maize: 2000-2025 graph
Winter cereals / Wintergewasse
Intentions to plant  2025  Voorneme om te plant
Crop / Gewas Intentions *
Voorneme *
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale skatting
Change / Verandering
2025 2024 2024
Ha Ha Tons %
(A) (B) (C) (A) ÷ (B)
Commercial / Kommersieël
Wheat / Koring 513 200 505 300 1 924 890 1.56
Barley / Gars 93 050 100 700 374 000 -7.60
Canola 166 500 165 750 288 200 0.45
Oats / Hawer 34 520 31 000 42 800 11.35
Sweet lupins / Soetlupine 20 700 16 000 19 200 29.38
Total winter cereals / Totaal wintergewasse 827 970 818 750 2 649 090 1.13

*  Based on conditions at the middle of April 2025 / Gebaseer op toestande soos teen middel April 2025.

Wheat / Koring
Intentions to plant  2025  Voorneme om te plant
Province / Provinsie Intentions
Voorneme
Area planted
Oppervlakte beplant
Final estimate
Finale skatting
2025 2024 2024
Ha Ha Tons
Western Cape / Wes-Kaap 371 000 368 000 1 067 200
Northern Cape / Noord-Kaap 38 000 38 000 296 400
Free State / Vrystaat 55 000 49 000 225 400
Eastern Cape / Oos-Kaap 3 800 5 000 34 500
KwaZulu-Natal 8 400 8 300 52 290
Mpumalanga 3 500 3 500 24 500
Limpopo 22 000 20 500 143 500
Gauteng 1 000 1 000 6 700
North West / Noordwes 10 500 12 000 74 400
Total / Totaal 513 200 505 300 1 924 890
Wheat / Koring
Area planted   2010-2025   Oppervlakte beplant
Graph of area planted to wheat from 2010 to 2025
Barley / Gars
Area planted   2010-2025   Oppervlakte beplant
Graph of area planted to barley from 2010 to 2025
Canola
Area planted   2010-2025   Oppervlakte beplant
Graph of area planted to canola from 2010 to 2025

Winter cereal crops / Wintergewasse
Intentions to plant for 2025 / Voorneme om te plant vir 2025

Winter cereal crops – 2025

Producers' intentions to plant winter cereals are mainly based on the results of a non-probability survey conducted by the Directo­rate: Statistics and Economic Analysis of the Department of Agriculture and reflects the position as at the middle of April 2025. Inputs were also received from the representatives of the respective Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

The figures for wheat represent the total number of hectares that are intended to be planted for grain, excluding any hectares that will be planted for fodder and grazing.

Early indications are that producers intend to plant 513 200 ha of wheat for the 2025 production season. This is 1,56% or 7 900 ha more than the 505 300 ha planted to wheat in 2024.

The main producing areas are within the Western Cape with 371 000 ha (72%), followed by the Free State with 55 000 ha (11%) and the Northern Cape with 38 000 ha (7%).

The expected area planted to malting barley is 93 050 ha, which is 7,60% or 7 650 ha less than the 100 700 ha of the previous year. The expected area planted to canola is also 166 500 ha, which is 0,45% or 750 ha more than the 165 750 ha planted in 2024. Producers intend to plant 34 520 ha of cereal oats, which is 11,35% or 3 520 ha more than the 31 000 ha of the previous season. The expected area planted to sweet lupines is 20 700 ha, which is 29,38% or 4 700 ha more than the previous season.


Please note that the preliminary area estimate of winter crops for 2025 will be released on 29 July 2025.

Information is available online at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development or SAGIS, as from 14:30 on the date of the relevant meeting of the Crop Estimates Committee.

Wintergewasse – 2025

Produsente se voorneme om wintergewasse te plant is hoof­saak­lik gebaseer op die resultate van 'n nie-ewekansige opname on­derneem deur die Direktoraat: Statistiek en Ekonomiese Analise van die Departement van Landbou en weerspieël die situasie teen die middel van April 2025. Insette is ook ontvang vanaf die verteen­woordigers van die onderskeie Provinsiale Departemente van Landbou.

Die syfers vir koring verteenwoordig die totale aantal hektare wat werklik beplant gaan word vir graan, uitgesluit alle hektare wat beplant gaan word vir groenvoer en weiding.

Vroeë aanduidings is dat produsente van voorneme is om 513 200 ha koring te plant vir die 2025-produksieseisoen. Dit is 1,56% of 7 900 ha meer koring aangeplant as die 505 300 ha in 2024.

Die grootste produserende gebiede is in die Wes-Kaap, met 371 000 ha (72%), gevolg deur die Vrystaat met 55 000 ha (11%) en die Noord-Kaap met 38 000 ha (7%).

Die verwagte aanplantings van moutgars is 93 050 ha – 7,60% of 7 650 ha minder as die 100 700 ha van die vorige jaar. Die verwagte aanplantings van canola is ook 166 500 ha, wat 0,45% of 750 ha meer is as die 165 750 ha wat aangeplant was in 2024. Produsente is van voorneme om 34 520 ha hawermout te plant, wat 11,35% of 3 520 ha meer is as die 31 000 ha van die vorige seisoen. Die verwagte aanplantings van soetlupine is 20 700 ha, wat 29,38% of 4 700 ha meer is as die vorige seisoen.


Neem asseblief kennis dat die voorlopige oppervlakteskatting vir wintergewasse vir 2025 op 29 Julie 2025 vrygestel sal word.

Inligting is beskikbaar aanlyn by die Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development of by SAGIS, vanaf 14:30 op die dag van die toepaslike vergadering van die Oesskattings­komitee.

CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES that CEC members are committed to adhere to on the day of the meeting

  • Personal items such as laptops, handbags, cell phones, etc. are not allowed in the venue during the meeting.
  • No member is allowed to leave the meeting before 12:00 in order to prevent disclosure of the information.
  • The embargo time for the release of crop estimates information is 14:30.
  • No member is allowed to discuss crop estimates information with anyone other than a member of the Committee before the embargo time.
  • Only the Chairperson, or a member appointed by the Chairperson, may release the figures to the media.
  • Members must regard the detail of any information that was collected for and/or discussed during the meeting, as confidential.
  • Individual information received for crop estimate purposes is treated strictly confidential, and is not divulged for any other purposes.