Voluntary Report - public distribution

Date: 12/29/2005

GAIN Report Number: SF5044

SF5044

South Africa, Republic of

Grain and Feed

Monthly Update

2005

Approved by:

![](media/image1.wmf)Scott Reynolds

#### **U.S. Embassy, South Africa**

Prepared by:

Herman Germishuis

Report Highlights:

The estimate of the 2004 South African corn crop was revised from 12.4
to 11.7 million tons after disappointing deliveries. A substantial
cutback in area planted is expected for the 2005 planting season as a
result of both market and weather factors. This has already alleviated
the oversupply perception and bolstered domestic prices. The crop is
still very dependent on weather conditions over the next few months but
could reach about 7.3 million tons. Exports continue unabated and
imports are expected to resume soon.

Includes PSD Changes: Yes

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Pretoria \[SF1\]

\[SF\]

**Summary**

South Africa's 2005/06, summer rainfall season started at the beginning
of November this year. Although late, the rains allowed planting to
start especially in the eastern production areas where the optimum time
for planting ended at the end of October. Since then rainfall has been
poor. The big question is how much land farmers are planting. Grain SA
recommended not planting at all but commercial farmers are likely to cut
the area planted to 2.2 million hectares from the 2.8 million hectares
planted in 2005. The cutback is partly due to an effort to limit the
oversupply that led to low prices earlier in the current season, and the
weather conditions. If the area planted on commercial farms is cut back
to 2.2 million hectares the crop could still reach 7 million tons.
Adding the crop in the emerging sector could take the total to 7.25
million tons.

The current, FAS 2004, crop on commercial farms was revised downwards
from 12.2 million tons to 11.45 million tons, a 6% adjustment. This
alleviated the oversupply somewhat and helped domestic prices to recover
significantly.

US\$1 = Rand 6.35 (12/28/05)

[**www.sagis.org.za**](http://www.sagis.org.za/)[g]{.underline}

**[www.grainsa.co.za]{.underline}**

**[www.safex.co.za]{.underline}**

**[www.fews.net]{.underline}**

**[www.wfp.org]{.underline}**

## **CORN**

  ------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
  PSD Table                                                              

  Country             South                                              
                      Africa                                             

  Commodity           Corn                                               

  1000 HA             2003      Revised   2004      Estimate   2005      Forecast

  1000 MT             USDA      Post      USDA      Post       USDA      Post
                      \[Old\]   \[New\]   \[Old\]   \[New\]    \[Old\]   \[New\]

  Market Year Begin             05/2004             05/2005              05/2006

  Area Harvested      3300      3240      3223      3223       2600      2600

  Beginning Stocks    2443      2420      2956      2935       3572      2750

  Production          9700      9710      11716     11715      7500      7250

  TOTAL Mkt. Yr.      219       222       150       150        200       250
  Imports                                                                

  Oct-Sep Imports     495       553       131       175        200       175

  Oct-Sep Import U.S. 61        62        0         5          0         0

  TOTAL SUPPLY        12362     12352     14822     14800      11272     10250

  TOTAL Mkt. Yr.      729       773       2300      2100       1000      1000
  Exports                                                                

  Oct-Sep Exports     797       449       1517      1500       1500      1500

  Feed Dom.           4077      4040      4300      4700       4200      4400
  Consumption                                                            

  TOTAL Dom.          8677      8644      8950      9950       8900      8950
  Consumption                                                            

  Ending Stocks       2956      2935      3572      2750       1372      300

  TOTAL DISTRIBUTION  12362     12352     14822     14800      11272     10250
  ------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------

## **Production**

In early December the National Crop Estimates Committee finally revised
the area planted as well as production for the commercial corn crop
planted in 2004. The revisions were based on the SAGIS delivery figures
as well as a utilization survey done by the National Department of
Agriculture. The following table compares the revised figures to the
previous estimate:

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  FAS 2004       Last GEC est.                 Revised final  

  MY 2005/06     Area planted   Production     Area planted   Production

                 1,000 ha.      1,000 MT       1,000 ha.      1,000 MT

  White corn     1845.0         7264.5         1700 (-7.9%)   6540.7 (-10%)

  Yellow corn    1084.5         4915.8         1110 (+2.4%)   4909.3 (-.1%)

  Total          2929.5         12180.3        2810 (-4.1%)   11450.0 (-6%)
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

The revision does not clear up the doubts about the true size of the
2004 commercial crop as deliveries up to the end of November only
amounted to 10 million tons, implying farm retentions of 1.45 million
tons, about one million tons more than the norm. This explains the high
consumption figure shown in the PS&D above.

The 2005 crop is causing more concern. At the end of October a survey
showed that the intention was to cut the new season's area planted by
about 50%. In addition to price pressure, the early part of the planting
season was very hot and dry and the optimum planting dates in Mpumalanga
passed before the first rains arrived in November. Rainfall has been
poor since then.

A more likely 2005 scenario is that the commercial area to be planted to
corn will be cut to 2.2 million hectares from the 2.8 million ha.
planted in 2004, 1.3 million hectares white and 900,000 hectares yellow
corn. This could still yield a 7 million ton crop at average yields. The
lack of early rains and the hot and dry spring caused much concern,
which manifested itself in increased futures prices. In early November
rainfall increased and planting commenced in the eastern production
areas. There is still time to plant till the end of December in the
western production areas. Rainfall has been disappointing to date and
the area planted and crop prospects are in jeopardy. January rainfall
will have a major effect on the potential crop.

The futures market already expects a disaster and the market hit a
22-month high on December 27 with January 2006 white corn quoted at R1,
212/MT (\$191/MT), more than double the prevailing prices earlier this
year.

A forecast based on the five-year average yields and normal rainfall
from now on follows:

+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Co       | 2004    | Yi  | Pr       | 2005    | Yield   | Pro     |
| mmercial | area    | eld | oduction | area    |         | duction |
|          | planted |     |          |         | MT/ha   |         |
|          | '000    | MT  | 20       | planted |         | 2005,   |
|          | ha.     | /ha | 04,final | '000    |         | f       |
|          |         |     | revision | ha.     |         | orecast |
|          |         |     | '000 MT  |         |         |         |
|          |         |     |          |         |         | '000 MT |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| White    | 1,700   | 3.8 | 6,540    | 1,300   | 3.0     | 3,900   |
| corn     |         |     |          |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Yellow   | 1,110   | 4.4 | 4,910    | 900     | 3.4     | 3,100   |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Total    | 2,810   | 4.1 | 11,450   | 2,200   | 3.2     | 7,000   |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| De       |         |     |          |         |         |         |
| veloping |         |     |          |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| White    | 325     | 0.6 | 203      | 325     | 0.6     | 200     |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Yellow   | 88.5    | 0.7 | 63       | 75      | 0.7     | 50      |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Total    | 413.5   | 0.6 | 266      | 400     | 0.6     | 250     |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Total    |         |     |          |         |         |         |
| corn     |         |     |          |         |         |         |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| White    | 2,025   | 3.3 | 6,743    | 1,625   | 2.5     | 4,100   |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| Yellow   | 1,198.5 | 4.1 | 4,973    | 975     | 3.2     | 3,150   |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+
| TOTAL    | 3,223,5 | 3.6 | 11,716   | 2,600   | 2.8     | 7,250   |
+----------+---------+-----+----------+---------+---------+---------+

Consumption

We include deliveries for March and April in our delivery figure as,
depending on the season, the new crop becomes available from March each
year. Deliveries up to the end of November 2005 are shown in the
following table:

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
  Deliveries '000   White corn        Yellow corn       Total corn
  MT                                                    

  March 2005        18                53                71

  April             37                104               141

  May -- Nov.       5,964             3,819             9,783

  TOTAL             6,019             3,976             9,995
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

We would normally expect to get in an additional 80,000 tons from
December to end of February 2006. The fact is that there is still more
than 1.4 million tons of the revised crop unaccounted for. We can
consider this as farm retentions although it is much higher than usual.
A commercial PS&D based only on deliveries from March to November can be
supplied to highlight the current situation.

+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| # FAS 2004        | # MY           | #              | '000 MT        |
|                   | May05/April 06 | Commercial S&D |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| '000 Metric tons  | White          | Yellow         | Total          |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| B/Stocks, May 1,  | 2345           | 590            | 2935           |
| 05                |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Revised           | 6540           | 4910           | 11450          |
| Production        |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Deliveries, March | 6020           | 3975           | 9995           |
| --Nov             |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Farm retentions   | 520            | 935            | 1455           |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Total supply      | 8365           | 4565           | 12930          |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Expected exports  | 1725           | 375            | 2100           |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Expected          | 4770           | 3460           | 8230           |
| consumption       |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Ending stocks     | 1870           | 730            | 2600           |
| forecast          |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+

The analysis above does not take imports into account, which are
expected to resume in January 2006 with about 50,000 tons of yellow corn
from Argentina. Further imports are foreseen in both MY 2005/06 and MY
2006/07.

The apparently smaller 2004 crop and the proposed cutback in the 2005
crop can cut the surplus considerably. We can give a 2006/07 PS&D
forecast to illustrate the point.

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
  FAS 2005 forecast MY May 06/April   Commercial S&D    '000 MT
                    07                                  

  B/Stocks          1870              730               2600

  Crop forecast     3900              3100              7000

  Farm retentions   100               350               450

  Expected          3800              2750              6550
  Deliveries                                            

  Supply            5670              3480              9150

  Exports           900               100               1000

  Consumption       4750              3350              8100

  E/Stock           20                30                50
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

Obviously stocks will have to be supplemented by imports. Some yellow
corn may also be used in lieu of white corn for human consumption.

## **Trade**

In the meantime exports continue unabated with about 123,000 tons
exported in the first three weeks of December. Zimbabwe continues to be
the main market taking 62% of white corn exports through December 16.
Zimbabwe pronounced its intention to import 1.2 million tons this season
and is averaging more than 90,000 tons per month. Both Malawi and Zambia
must pick up their rate of imports substantially over the next few
months to avert famine. Current high price levels and clogged supply
lines are slowing down the process. Zambia, like Zimbabwe, requires GMO
free corn. The high prices also killed off the possibility of major
overseas sales.

+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| EXPORTS MT | 11/26-   | 12/03-   | 12/10-   |        | Cumulative |
|            | 12/02/05 | 12/09/05 | 12/16/05 |        | since      |
| White corn |          |          |          |        | 04/30      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Angola     |          |          |          |        | 11 978     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Benin      |          |          |          |        | 2 278      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Botswana   | 4 151    | 4 870    | 2 931    |        | 116 023    |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Cameroon   |          |          |          |        | 1 774      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Ghana      |          |          |          |        | 7 638      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Kenya      |          |          |          |        | 33 614     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Lesotho    | 385      | 591      | 393      |        | 47 980     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Madagascar |          |          |          |        | 387        |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Malawi     | 1 603    | 2 111    | 19 085\* |        | 34 310     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Mali       |          |          |          |        | 2 258      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Mozambique | 7 625    | 2 909    | 2 765    |        | 77 556     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Namibia    | 1 713    | 3 228    | 2 921    |        | 14 205     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Sudan      |          |          |          |        | 28 272     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Swaziland  | 1 495    | 1 400    | 1 354    |        | 14 360     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Tanzania   |          |          | 10 000\* |        |            |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Zambia     | 1 808    | 2 400    | 3 134    |        | 16 187     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Zimbabwe   | 14 401   | 11 523   | 12 321   |        | 674 359    |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Total      | 33 181   | 30 032   | 54 904   |        | 1 093 175  |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Yellow     |          |          |          |        |            |
| corn       |          |          |          |        |            |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Angola     |          |          |          |        | 204        |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Botswana   | 646      | 653      | 538      |        | 10 588     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Indonesia  |          |          |          |        | 49 500     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Iran       |          |          |          |        | 93 284     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Japan      |          |          |          |        | 113 098    |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Lesotho    |          |          |          |        | 1 637      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Mozambique | 404      | 766      | 79       |        | 5 566      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Namibia    | 258      | 443      | 489      |        | 11 970     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Swaziland  | 346      | 571      | 745      |        | 19 398     |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Zimbabwe   | 34       |          | 124      |        | 1 353      |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Total      | 1 688    | 2 433    | 1 975    |        | 306 598    |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+
| Grand      | 34 869   | 32 465   | 55 879   |        | 1 399 773  |
| total      |          |          |          |        |            |
+------------+----------+----------+----------+--------+------------+

\*Durban, 17,146 tons by sea to Malawi and 10,000 tons to Dar-as-Salaam,
(probably also for Malawi)

###### Prices

During December, the March, May and July 2006 white corn SAFEX prices
have been moving up to \$190/ton compared to \$150/ton in November and
\$125/ton in October. The same yellow corn prices moved up to \$157/ton
compared to \$125/ton in November and \$119/ton in October. The high
prices are likely to depress both consumption and exports. The prices
reflect the market's belief in a major cutback in area planted and a
drought induced crop failure. The area planted is expected to decline,
but weather will be, as usual, the main factor determining crop size.

RSA, SAFEX futures exchange quotes:

+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Rand/MT   | US\$/MT     |             |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| White     | December 05 | ### *       | August 05   | October 05  |
| corn      |             | *March 06** |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 06/27/05  | R634=\$94.5 | R670=\$99.9 | R574=\$85.5 | R593=\$88.4 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 07/27/05  | R           | R           | R           | R           |
|           | 671=\$100.9 | 709=\$106.6 | 619=\$122.6 | 632=\$107.8 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 08/31/05  | R           | R           | ##          | R           |
|           | 735=\$114.0 | 766=\$118.8 | #### May 06 | 695=\$107.8 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 09/30/05  | R           | R           | R           | R           |
|           | 847=\$133.4 | 868=\$136.7 | 867=\$136.5 | 823=\$129.6 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 11/03/05  | R           | R           | R           | ##          |
|           | 834=\$125.4 | 851=\$128.0 | 856=\$128.7 | **July 06** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **1       | **R95       | **R97       | **R97       | **R98       |
| 1/30/05** | 9=\$147.5** | 8=\$150.5** | 5=\$150.0** | 0=\$150.8** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **1       |             | **R122      | **R120      | **R119      |
| 2/27/05** |             | 7=\$193.2** | 4=\$189.6** | 5=\$188.2** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
|           |             |             |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Yellow  | **December  | ### *       | August 05   | October 05  |
| corn**    | 05**        | *March 06** |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 06/27/05  | R669=\$99.7 | R           | R607=\$90.5 | R629=\$93.7 |
|           |             | 705=\$105.1 |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 07/27/05  | R           | R           | R625=\$94.0 | R635=&95.5  |
|           | 667=\$100.3 | 697=\$104.8 |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 08/31/05  | R           | R           | ##          | R645=\$100  |
|           | 683=\$105.9 | 708=\$109.8 | #### May 06 |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 09/30/05  | R           | R           | R           | R           |
|           | 772=\$121.6 | 780=\$122.8 | 786=\$123.8 | 755=\$118.9 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 11/03/05  | R           | R           | R           | ##          |
|           | 777=\$116.8 | 789=\$118.6 | 801=\$120.9 | **July 06** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **1       | **R79       | **R80       | **R83       | **R81       |
| 1/30/05** | 7=\$122.6** | 4=\$123.7** | 7=\$128.8** | 4=\$125.2** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **1       |             | **R99       | **R1        | **R100      |
| 2/27/05** |             | 5=\$156.7** | 005=158.3** | 5=\$158.3** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
|           |             |             |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **Wheat** | **December  | ### *       | August 05   | October 05  |
|           | 05**        | *March 06** |             |             |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 06/27/05  | R1          | R1          | R1          | R1          |
|           | 481=\$220.7 | 521=\$226.7 | 603=\$238.9 | 580=\$235.5 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 07/27/05  | R1          | R1          | R1          | R1          |
|           | 475=\$221.8 | 520=\$228.6 | 537=\$231.1 | 542=\$231.9 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 08/31/05  | R1          | R1          | ##          | R1          |
|           | 379=\$213.8 | 429=\$221.6 | #### May 06 | 490=\$231.0 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 09/30/05  | R1          | R1          | R1          | R1          |
|           | 421=\$223.8 | 460=\$229.9 | 473=\$232.0 | 440=\$226.8 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 11/03/05  | R1          | R1          | R1          | ##          |
|           | 463=\$220.0 | 484=\$223.2 | 520=\$228.6 | **July 06** |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| **1       | **R136      | **R140      | **R142      | ## R1       |
| 1/30/05** | 9=\$210.6** | 1=\$215.5** | 1=\$218.6** | 432=\$220.3 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 12/27/05  |             | R1          | R1          | ## R1       |
|           |             | 450=\$228.3 | 464=\$230.6 | 470=\$231.5 |
+-----------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

## **WHEAT**

  ------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
  PSD Table                                                              

  Country             South                                              
                      Africa                                             

  Commodity           Wheat                                              

  1000 HA             2003      Revised   2004      Estimate   2005      Forecast

  1000 MT             USDA      Post      USDA      Post       USDA      Post
                      \[Old\]   \[New\]   \[Old\]   \[New\]    \[Old\]   \[New\]

  Market Year Begin             10/2003             10/2004              10/2005

  Area Harvested      748       748       830       830        800       801

  Beginning Stocks    898       897       598       614        560       585

  Production          1540      1540      1680      1680       1800      1800

  TOTAL Mkt. Yr.      1278      1278      1396      1395       1300      1200
  Imports                                                                

  Jul-Jun Imports     911       837       1407      1350       1300      850

  Jul-Jun Import U.S. 475       414       270       265        0         250

  TOTAL SUPPLY        3716      3715      3674      3689       3660      3585

  TOTAL Mkt. Yr.      379       380       324       326        350       325
  Exports                                                                

  Jul-Jun Exports     356       320       338       350        350       325

  Feed Dom.           10        32        10        23         10        25
  Consumption                                                            

  TOTAL Dom.          2739      2721      2790      2778       2750      2800
  Consumption                                                            

  Ending Stocks       598       614       560       585        560       460

  TOTAL DISTRIBUTION  3716      3715      3674      3689       3660      3585
  ------------------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------

###### Production

According to the fifth official estimate the expected 2005 wheat crop is
1.8 million tons, 2% smaller than the fourth estimate mainly due to dry
conditions in the Free State. The expected yield is 2.24 MT/ha. The
production estimate for the Western Cape is 645,000 tons at 2.15 MT/ha.
and the Free State 532,000 MT at 1.4 MT/ha. The total area planted is
unchanged at 800,500 ha.

Commercial human consumption increased by 3.1% from 2.652 million tons
in MY2003/04 to 2.734 million tons in MY 2004/05. Imports increased from
1.278 million tons in 2003/04 to 1.394 million tons in 2004/05 and are
expected to reach 1.2 million tons in 2005/06.

**Trade**

  ----------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------
  IMPORTS     MY 03/04   Oct./Sept.              MY 04/05   Oct./Sept.   

  MT          For Africa For RSA      Total      For Africa For RSA      Total

  Argentina   73 816     268 218      342 034    111 654    574 600      686 254

  USA         146 660    413 429      560 089    43 078     281 165      324 243

  Australia              298 504      298 504               154 112      154 112

  Germany     3 873      12 199       16 072     12 603     115 332      127 935

  Canada      13 767                  13 767                43 766       43 766

  Ukraine                                                   29 935       29 935

  UK                     22 420       22 420                27 586       27 586

  France      2          25 016       25 016                             

  TOTAL       238 116    1 039 786    1 277 902  167 335    1 226 496    1 393 831
  ----------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------

South Africa actually imported about 116,000 tons more in 2004/05 than
in 2003/04. Although the US share sunk from 43% to 23%, U.S. exports to
South Africa still reached 324,000 tons.

Imports during the 2005/06 season continue unabated, from October 1 to
December 16, 341,000 tons were imported. The following table contains
the details.

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
  From              For Africa        For RSA           Total

  USA               18,600            52,761            71,361

  Australia                           42,517            42,517

  Argentina                           26,460            26,460

  Germany           27,643            55,334            82,977

  Ukraine                             34,831            34,831

  Total             46,243            211,903           341,123
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  EXPORTS MT              2003/04                 2004/05

  Botswana                88,559                  77,033

  Lesotho                 74,656                  75,956

  Swaziland               40,634                  34,543

  Zimbabwe                102,598                 40,738

  Zambia                  37,430                  55,826

  Namibia                 12,622                  16,904

  Total                   356,499                 301,000

  Products                23,001                  21,000

  Grand total             379,500                 322,000
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Whole grain exports only reached 301,000 tons in 2004/05 after 356,000
tons were exported in 2003/04. Product export data are added for a total
of 322,000 tons in 2004/05 including 135,000 tons of SA origin wheat,
the same as in 2003/04.

Since October 1, 2005 about 46,000 tons were exported including 8,600
tons to Botswana, 19,700 tons to Lesotho, 1,700 tons to Namibia, 9,600
tons to Swaziland and 6,200 tons to Zambia.