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SOYBEANS
The 2021/2022 season was a record year for soybeans. The hectares planted grew by about 12% from
827 100 ha to 925 300 ha. The total tons harvested showed an increase of 16% from 1 897 million tons
to 2 201 million tons. This improvement can be attributed to favourable growth conditions and the ability
of soybeans to handle excessive water well. Yield showed an increase of 4% from 2,29 t/ha to 2,38 t/ha.
Graph 3
shows the total area planted, production and the average yield of soybeans from the
1995/1996 season until now.
Table 3
contains the production overview for soybeans in the 2021/2022
season. Figure 3 shows soybean exports over the past three seasons. South Africa currently produces
soybeans to the extent that large quantities can be exported.
1995/1996
1996/1997
1997/1998
1998/1999
1999/2000
2000/2001
2001/2002
2002/2003
2003/2004
2004/2005
2005/2006
2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
2015/2016
2016/2017
2017/2018
2018/2019
2019/2020
2020/2021
2021/2022
2 500
2 000
1 500
1 000
500
0
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
PRODUCTION
AREA
GRAPH 3
SOYBEANS: TOTAL AREA PLANTED, PRODUCTION AND YIELD
YIELD
Thousand ha or ton
t/ha
TABLE 3
PRODUCTION OVERVIEW FOR SOYBEANS (2021/2022)
2020/2021 2021/2022
5-YEAR
AVERAGE
10-YEAR
AVERAGE
Total planted (hectares)
827 100
925 300
724 750
630 525
Total produced (tons)
1 897 000
2 201 000
1 433 769
1 136 335
Average yield (tons/ha)
2,29
2,38
1,98
1,77
LINEAR (YIELD)
LINEAR (AREA)
MARKET OVERVIEW FOR THE
2021/2022 PRODUCTION SEASON