TANZANIA – According to data from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the wholesale price of maize in Tanzania increased in August 2024, rising to 66,318 Tanzanian shillings (US$26.5) per 100 kilograms from 63,345 shillings (US$25.4) in July.
Additionally, the price of beans climbed to 264,986 shillings (US$106) from 263,998 shillings (US$105.6) over the same period.
Despite these local price increases, Tanzania continues to solidify its position as a major maize producer and exporter in the Eastern and Southern African regions.
Known for cultivating non-genetically modified maize, the country has leveraged favorable weather conditions, including above-average rainfall, to produce bumper maize harvests since 2023.
Key markets for Tanzanian maize include Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia. These nations rely heavily on Tanzania for maize supplies, especially as many face production challenges such as drought and lower yields.
According to country data, maize production for the 2024 season, which spans from mid-June to July, is projected to exceed 10 million tonnes, as highlighted by Agriculture Minister Hussein Basha.
This follows a strong performance in 2023 when the country produced 8.1 million tonnes of maize against a domestic demand of 6 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 2.1 million tonnes for export.
Malawi, which continues to face a maize shortage and rising prices, announced in September 2024 that it would import maize from Tanzania to ease the situation.
According to the August AGRA Food Security Monitor, Tanzania is expected to have a maize surplus of 4 million tonnes this year, enough to meet Malawi’s import requirements and address the region’s deficit.
In May 2024, the country signed an agreement to export 500,000 tonnes of maize to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a significant move as part of Tanzania’s strategy to boost the export of food crops and enhance its role as a center of food production in Africa.
In addition, in July 2024, Tanzania inked a deal to sell 650,000 tonnes of maize to Zambia.
Reports indicate that Southern Africa is expected to face a negative maize balance in the 2024/25 marketing year, with Tanzania poised to become a key exporter.
To ensure price and supply stability in local markets, the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) purchased 118,625 tonnes of maize in August, primarily sourced from the Rukwa, Songwe, Arusha, Njombe, and Ruvuma regions. During the month, the Agency released 2,421 tonnes of maize to traders.
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