Summer crop plantings rise as farmers expand maize and oilseed area

South African farmers have expanded plantings of key summer crops for the 2025/26 season, with early estimates pointing to growth in maize, soybeans and sunflower seed, according to the latest report from the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC).

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has welcomed the findings, saying they align with earlier signals from producers.

The CEC’s preliminary area estimate for maize stands at 2.674 million hectares, which is 2.98% (77 500 ha) more than the 2.597 million hectares planted last season. This is also slightly above the intended planting figure of 2.666 million hectares released in October 2025.

White maize plantings are estimated at 1.644 million hectares, up 2.78% (44 500 ha) from 1.600 million hectares last season. Yellow maize area is projected at 1.030 million hectares, a 3.31% (33 000 ha) increase from the 997 000 hectares planted previously.

Oilseed plantings also show gains. Sunflower seed area is estimated at 560 800 hectares, 0.92% (5 100 ha) higher than the 555,700 hectares planted last season. Soybean plantings are projected at 1.185 million hectares, an increase of 2.95% (34 000 ha) compared with 1.151 million hectares last year.

However, not all crops are expanding. Groundnut plantings are expected to decline by 9.30% (4 475 ha) to 43 650 hectares, from 48 125 hectares in the previous season.

Sorghum area is down 5.22% (2 150 ha) to 39 000 hectares, while dry beans show the sharpest drop, falling 20.21% (9 220 ha) to 36,400 hectares.

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said farmers had indicated late last year that they intended to increase plantings of summer grains and oilseeds, and the latest data confirms they have followed through.

“The data released by the Crop Estimates Committee shows that they followed up on their intentions. South Africa’s 2025-26 preliminary area plantings for summer grains and oilseeds are 4.54 million hectares, up 2% from the previous season,” he said.

Sihlobo added that there is a broad expansion in the area under major crops, with sorghum, groundnuts, and dry beans being the only crops showing a decline in the area farmers tilled.

“We are still in the early days, but judging from these planting data and the favourable rainfall, we are inclined to believe that 2025-26 may yet be another excellent year for South Africa’s summer grains and oilseeds,” Sihlobo said.

“A closer look at the data shows that maize plantings for 2025-26 are estimated at 2.67 million hectares, up 3% from the previous season.”

Sihlobo said that there is an increase in both white and yellow maize. White maize area plantings are 1.64 million hectares, with yellow maize at 1.03 million hectares. The soybean plantings are forecast at 1.19 million hectares, up 3% from the 2024-25 production season.

"The Free State and North West provinces show significant gains in planted area compared to the previous season. The 2025-26 sunflower seed plantings are forecast at 560 800 hectares, up 1% of the prior season. The Free State and Limpopo show much gains in the area compared with other provinces," Sihlobo said.

"Regarding the smaller grains, the 2025-26 groundnut seed area is forecast at 43 650 hectares, with sorghum area at 39 000 hectares, and dry beans plantings at 36 400 hectares."

Sihlobo added that in essence, while these are still preliminary planting data, they signal that farmers have exceeded the intended area for 2025-26 summer grains and oilseeds plantings.

“Notably, the favourable rains across the country continue to support crop-growing prospects. We will know more about the potential yield size when the Crop Estimates Committee releases its first production figures on February 26. Still, with the data at hand and the excellent rains, we believe this may be yet another season of abundance.”

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