20 LEAF SERVICES LEAF Services was appointed by the Department of Agriculture in terms of the Agricultural Product Standards Act to inspect grains and grain products. Their inspection involves grading unprocessed grain and grain products – something that is already being done by the industry. It would therefore imply the current selfregulating grading system is being duplicated. By participating in the discussions and ensuring that producers are not harmed by unnecessary additional costs, Grain SA had already saved producers millions of rands in costs by 2024. Earlier this year the Minister of Agriculture cancelled the appointment of Leaf Services after numerous requests and consultations by Grain SA and other industry role-players to the department. This is a major victory from which grain producers benefit considerably. TRADING: IMPORTS AND EXPORTS The 2024/2025 marketing season saw a drastic decrease in soybean exports. Only 150 245 tons of exports were achieved during the season, which is in stark contrast to the 597 045 tons of the previous season. Although the figure is considerably lower than that of 2023/2024, it is still higher than the 10-year average of approximately 112 000 tons per season. The biggest importers of South African soybeans were Zimbabwe, Vietnam and Lesotho. However, the decline in export tonnage was not limited to soybeans, as yellow maize exports also dropped by 64%. Yellow maize exports for the 2024/2025 season reached a total of 770 377 tons, compared to the 2 167 128 tons of the previous season. The yellow maize exports for the season were also below the 10-year average of 1 324 643 tons per season. Approximately 57% of South African yellow maize was destined for Zimbabwe, 13% for Botswana and 11% for the Kingdom of Eswatini. Other importers of yellow maize include Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia. However, white maize exports did not follow the same trend, as there was an 18% increase in tonnage exported. White maize exports for the 2024/2025 marketing season reached 1 478 522 tons and were considerably higher than the 10-year average of 930 000 tons. Export markets for this grain mainly include South Africa’s neighbouring countries, with Zimbabwe in the lead, constituting 56% of the exports. Namibia and Botswana follow with 14% and 13% respectively. For the 2024/2025 marketing year South Africa exported only 102 265 tons of grain through the ports, and imported 3 574 361 tons of grain. Imports were, respectively, 2 420 660 tons through Durban harbour, 908 942 tons through Cape Town harbour and 244 759 through Port Elizabeth harbour. A part of the Agricultural and Agro-processing Master Plan discussions and negotiations is also to make the logistics system more effective and manage it better. One of the actions is to make upgrades to the port infrastructure. SEED COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED During the 2024/2025 planting season Grain SA investigated various seed enquiries and complaints on behalf of our members. On specific occasions Grain SA had the seed tested itself to ensure quality. GRADING REGULATIONS FOR MAIZE In August 2021 the Maize Forum, after consultation since 2019 and research by the SAGL, applied to amend the maize grading regulations. The aim was to make cosmetic changes and reduce grey areas, among other things by removing discoloured and water-damaged kernels as defective and better defining frost-damaged kernels. Because the Department of Agriculture progressed very slowly with consultation, a temporary dispensation was applied for in 2022, but this was revoked soon afterwards because of differences of opinion between roleplayers. Despite further meetings, no consensus could be reached and the application was continued. The department published the proposed amendments on 31 October 2022, but rejected them in January 2023 because of disagreement in the forum. Grain SA and SAGRA then submitted the same research-based application on behalf of themselves. After further consideration the Minister of Agriculture approved the amendments and published them in February and March 2024. A part of the Agricultural and Agroprocessing Master Plan discussions and negotiations is also to make the logistics system more effective and manage it better. GRAIN INTELLIGENCE, ECONOMICS AND MEMBER SERVICES
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