Southern Africa Monthly Food Price Update - March 2017
- Countries
- Zimbabwe
- + 15 more
- Sources
- WFP
- Publication date
- Origin
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Highlights
Maize price trends were mixed in February in the region. Tanzania and the DRC saw significant month-on-month (m-o-m) price increase of their main staple. Zambia and especially Tanzania registered the highest increase in the number of markets in ALPS Crisis.
Across most of the region, price of maize continued to remain above the 5 year average level with Mozambique standing high at about 119 percent. South Africa (SA) maize prices declined continually in quarter 1 of 2017 with both real and nominal price of white maize considerably dropping below the five year average to pre 2014 prices. It can be anticipated that South African maize prices will hit a price floor in quarter 2 of 2017.
Supplies of maize are expected to be average to above average from March onward as a result of good harvest prospects for most countries in the region except Tanzania. Whose maize production is expected to be below average. SA is set to harvest the second biggest maize crop on record edging close to 1980/81 bumper crop of 14.66 million tonnes.