South Africa’s food price outlook may be approaching a turning point, as early signals point to a high probability of an El Niño event developing ahead of the 2026–27 summer crop season - even as current production data continues to anchor near-term prices.
After two consecutive years of strong agricultural output under La Niña conditions, the weather cycle now appears to be shifting. Forecasts from leading global agencies suggest a greater than 70% chance of El Niño forming by late 2026, a development typically associated with below-average rainfall across Southern Africa. While the severity remains uncertain, the directional risk is that production conditions are likely to deteriorate from the recent period of abundance.
In the near term, however, supply remains strong. South Africa’s maize harvest has recently been revised up to approximately 16.8 million tonnes (an all-time record), likely keeping downward pressure on SAFEX prices for both white and yellow maize. As a surplus producer, local maize prices are typically anchored to export parity, meaning global prices translated into rand terms set the benchmark.
However, this dynamic can shift rapidly in a drought cycle. In years of constrained supply, maize prices tend to move toward import parity, driving sharp price increases and broader inflationary spillovers. This is where the El Niño risk becomes more consequential, particularly when viewed against South Africa’s structural reliance on imports for other key staples.
Wheat is a prime example. The country produces only around half of its domestic wheat requirements, importing the balance. As a result, wheat prices generally trade at import parity regardless of local harvest outcomes. Recent reports point to wheat plantings falling to an 11-year low, reflecting rising input costs - further underscoring the sector’s vulnerability to global price and currency movements.
These cost pressures are already significant. Fertiliser accounts for roughly 35% of grain farmers’ input costs, while diesel contributes between 20% and 30% across the agricultural sector. With around 80% of grain transported by road, fuel costs are deeply embedded throughout the food value chain. At the same time, many protein products (such as poultry and beef) are effectively derived from grain inputs, amplifying the pass-through from grain price shocks into broader food inflation.
For now, food CPI remains subdued, supported by strong harvests and a favourable base. Nonetheless, this combination of elevated input costs, tight global wheat linkages, and rising weather risk suggests the balance may shift. While there is no immediate catalyst for a sharp increase, the risk of higher food inflation is likely to become clearer in the first half of 2027, as the potential effects of El Niño begin to filter through production and pricing.
What has been a sustained period of food price stability may prove temporary in nature, with early signs pointing to a more inflationary phase ahead- one that markets may not yet fully reflect.
First published on LinkedIn, 5 May 2026.