Canola production in South Africa may reach a fresh high in 2026-27
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Many agricultural crops and value chains have shown dramatic progress in recent years. They should serve as an inspiration for further growth of this sector.
I often write about South Africa's soybean success story, whose production increased from 67,700 tonnes in the 1993-94 production season to an expected record harvest of 2,8 million tonnes in 2025-26. This, in turn, has been driven by increased demand for high-protein foods, particularly poultry products.
But soybeans aren't the only success story in South Africa's vegetable oils cluster.
Canola is one of South Africa's agricultural success stories. Since South African farmers began commercial planting of the crop on 17,000 hectares in 1998-99, the area has increased to an estimated 174,515 hectares in 2025-26. For the 2026-27 season, the farmers plan to increase the area to 189,175 hectares.
Like soybeans, the catalyst behind the increase in canola plantings, among other things, is a rise in domestic demand or usage for oils and oilcake. There has also been a switch in some areas from wheat to canola due to higher profitability in recent times. South Africa is now a net canola exporter, having shipped to countries such as Germany and Belgium in recent years.
Canola is a winter crop. Hence, production is primarily in the Western Cape, a winter-rainfall region in South Africa.
Considering the farmers' intentions to plant 189,175 hectares, up by 8% from the previous season. If we assume relatively favourable weather conditions and a decent yield, applying a five-year average yield of 1,89 tonnes per hectare, South Africa could harvest 357,541 tonnes, up 16% from the previous season. This could be a fresh high.
Admittedly, it is still too early to tell with certainty where the canola crop harvest will be and whether farmers will successfully plant the area they intend to till. The key determinant will be the weather conditions, amongst other things.
Placing the current weather forecasts aside, I think it's fair to say that canola is one of the success stories of South Africa's agriculture, alongside the soybean industry and many of our fruits.
Listen to the podcast for more information.
I often write about South Africa's soybean success story, whose production increased from 67,700 tonnes in the 1993-94 production season to an expected record harvest of 2,8 million tonnes in 2025-26. This, in turn, has been driven by increased demand for high-protein foods, particularly poultry products.
But soybeans aren't the only success story in South Africa's vegetable oils cluster.
Canola is one of South Africa's agricultural success stories. Since South African farmers began commercial planting of the crop on 17,000 hectares in 1998-99, the area has increased to an estimated 174,515 hectares in 2025-26. For the 2026-27 season, the farmers plan to increase the area to 189,175 hectares.
Like soybeans, the catalyst behind the increase in canola plantings, among other things, is a rise in domestic demand or usage for oils and oilcake. There has also been a switch in some areas from wheat to canola due to higher profitability in recent times. South Africa is now a net canola exporter, having shipped to countries such as Germany and Belgium in recent years.
Canola is a winter crop. Hence, production is primarily in the Western Cape, a winter-rainfall region in South Africa.
Considering the farmers' intentions to plant 189,175 hectares, up by 8% from the previous season. If we assume relatively favourable weather conditions and a decent yield, applying a five-year average yield of 1,89 tonnes per hectare, South Africa could harvest 357,541 tonnes, up 16% from the previous season. This could be a fresh high.
Admittedly, it is still too early to tell with certainty where the canola crop harvest will be and whether farmers will successfully plant the area they intend to till. The key determinant will be the weather conditions, amongst other things.
Placing the current weather forecasts aside, I think it's fair to say that canola is one of the success stories of South Africa's agriculture, alongside the soybean industry and many of our fruits.
Listen to the podcast for more information.
