Policy centre warns of maize export challenges as DRC, South Africa pose serious competition

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development has warned that Zambia could face difficulties exporting surplus maize during the 2026 marketing season due to increased competition from South Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo market.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, CTPD Executive Director, Isaac Mwaipopo, said Zambia’s bumper maize harvest could become a challenge if stable export markets were not secured.

Mwaipopo said Zambia produced about 3.7 million metric tonnes of maize during the 2025 farming season, with an additional carry-over stock of about 300,000 metric tonnes, bringing total stocks to more than four million metric tonnes.

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He said the country’s annual maize requirement stood at around 3.5 million metric tonnes, leaving an estimated surplus of about 500,000 metric tonnes.

“Failure to secure diverse export markets could place pressure on grain prices during the 2026 marketing season,” he said.

Mwaipopo said South Africa had strengthened its position as a supplier of genetically modified maize to the Democratic Republic of Congo following delays in Zambia’s export policy decisions.

He warned that the development could weaken Zambia’s competitiveness in one of its major regional markets despite government lifting restrictions on maize grain and mealie meal exports.

Mwaipopo also cautioned that a large carry-over stock into the next farming season could push producer prices downward, particularly affecting small-scale farmers.

The organisation further raised concern over limited storage capacity at the Food Reserve Agency, saying inadequate storage infrastructure could result in post-harvest losses if grain is retained for long periods without market absorption.

CTPD has since urged government to secure alternative export markets and adopt more predictable agricultural trade policies, arguing that export bans and delayed policy decisions affect Zambia’s reliability as a regional supplier.

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