Maize sourced from Zambia was the cheapest at an average price of US$294 per tonne, while Mexico was the most expensive at US$399 per tonne.

POULTRY feeds manufacturers continued to dominate the stockfeed production sector during the third quarter of 2017 with a monthly average of 3 534 metric tonnes worth $15,5 million.
However, the sector has experienced a 26 percent decline in quantity and a four percent decrease in value over the same period in 2016.
According to a Stockfeed Manufacturers Association (SMA) report, poultry feeds accounted for 68 percent of all feeds produced by weight and 73 percent by monetary value.
“By comparison, pig and ruminant feeds accounted for eight and nine percent of the total value of feeds produced respectively,” the report said.
Over the period July to September, production of broiler and layer feeds decreased 25 and 27 percent respectively, compared to the same period last year.
Monthly procurement of raw materials and production of all stockfeeds in the third quarter of 2017 averaged 36 462 and 33 907 metric tonnes, representing a decrease of 15 and 22 percent.
The value of raw materials and feeds produced was $11, 4 million and 17,8 million per month respectively.
“The average value of raws (maize and soya beans) procured in the third quarter of 2017 was $314 per metric tonne, a decrease of 13 percent over the second quarter of 2017,” SMA said.
Maize and soya procurements during the third quarter constituted the bulk of raw material used, accounting for 67 percent of all raw materials procured by weight and 83 percent by monetary value.
For the procurement of maize as from January 2017, $102 million was used compared to $143 million and US$76 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The October 2017 update from the Livestock, Meat and Advisory Council, indicated that the average price of maize up to July 2017 was $375 per tonne, nine percent higher than $344 over the corresponding period in 2016 and 25 percent higher than 2015.
Maize sourced from Zambia was the cheapest at an average price of US$294 per tonne, while Mexico was the most expensive at US$399 per tonne.
The maize price for industrial users buying from the Grain Marketing Board ranged from $240 to $280 per tonne.
Statutory Instrument 79 of 2017, prohibiting the purchase of maize contracted under the Command Maize programme, did not extend to all maize produced. Purchases direct from maize producers ranged between $180 and $220 per tonne depending on whether it’s cash or transfer payment.
“The policy of setting the purchase price of maize at $390 per metric tonne, while selling the same maize at $270 per metric tonne to industry and financing the deficit using Treasury Bills, is expected to have a stimulatory effect in the short run.
The downside is it that it has the potential to induce inflationary pressures in the medium to long term as the method of financing the deficit is unsustainable,” the October report said.
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