Delayed wheat tariff decisions, rising input costs and mounting logistics pressures are placing strain on South Africas grain sector amid volatile global trade conditions.
Speaking at the NAMPO Harvest Day 2026 held near Bothaville from May 12-15, Grain SA chairperson Richard Krige warned that producers were facing growing pressure from subsidised imports, weakening global wheat prices and infrastructure bottlenecks.
At the centre of the dispute is a June 2024 application submitted by Grain SA and the South African Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association Sacota to the International Trade Administration Commission ITAC. The application seeks amendments to the wheat tariff reference price and a faster, more transparent tariff publication process.
