S. Africa White-Corn Imports Seen Missing Target by Chamber
- Nation may not source 1.1 million tons white corn needed
- Country has received 78,827 tons white corn in 2016-17 season
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South Africa, which is set to produce the smallest corn crop since 2008 this year, may miss a target to import enough of the white variety this season to meet consumers’ needs, the biggest agricultural lobby group said.
“It is still unclear whether we will be able to see the forecast 1.1 million tons by the end of the season,” that terminates in April, Wandile Sihlobo, head economist at Agricultural Business Chamber, said by phone Tuesday. An increase in the pace of imports and supplies from the nation’s own harvest, which is reaped from May to August, “will keep things cushioned,” he said.