(Ecofin Agency) - South Africa’s maize output for the 2017-18 season should stand at 12.49 million tons, a poll of five traders and market analysts told Reuters.

This volume is slightly higher than the 12.2 million tons previously forecasted in February. In details, it includes 6.24 million tons of white corn and 6.25 million of yellow corn. However, this output is far below the 16.82 million tons produced last season.

According to Warren Langridge, director at Riddermark Capital, the improvement is owing to sufficient rainfall which fosters the development of young plants.

Let’s recall that South Africa is the African leading corn producer and exporter.

Espoir Olodo