South Africa imports white maize

TO BOOST its supply of maize, South Africa will import about 50,000 tons of white maize from Mexico, a Reuters report said.

The country’s output of white maize, a staple for the nation’s poor majority and working class, has been affected by the scorching drought. The government crops agency predicted domestic production for the current season would be down by more than a third to levels last seen in 2007.

The low supply has pushed prices of domestic maize to record highs exceeding 3,000 rand ($245) a ton. This, in turn, is putting pressure on food prices and inflation in Africa's most advanced economy and biggest producer of white maize.

The first shipment from Mexico is expected in August, to be followed by five more shipments between September and December.

Last March, South Africa placed orders to import yellow maize for animal feed from Argentina.