This monitoring period focuses on eight major maize-producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere, covering Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Angola. In Brazil, maize cultivation activities are concentrated in the south-central region, with this monitoring period covering both the first and second season maize. In Argentina, the main maize production areas are distributed across the Pampas region, featuring a relatively large planting scale. In Mexico, maize cultivation areas are mainly located in the northwest and south, with this monitoring period corresponding to its second season maize. In Southern Africa, the maize production is concentrated in the eastern and central regions; Zambia, as the second largest producer in Southern Africa after South Africa, has its major production areas including Eastern, Central, and Southern Provinces; Kenya, Mozambique, and Angola also represent significant maize supply forces in this region. Overall, the total planting area for maize in the Southern Hemisphere’s major producing countries increased substantially by 16%, and despite a 3% decline in yield, total production still rose by 12% compared with last year.

During the current monitoring period, the production situation in the Southern Hemisphere’s major maize-producing countries exhibited pronounced regional divergence. Argentina experienced compensatory rainfall recovery and above‑average temperatures, reversing the persistent rainfall deficit observed in the previous monitoring period and accelerating crop maturation and the later-stage dehydration process. Brazil’s maize production overall benefited from a significant expansion in the second‑season maize area, pushing the national total maize production to a record high. In Mexico, the autumn‑winter maize harvest has been completed, and sowing conditions for the main spring‑summer season are generally favorable. In South Africa, adequate water supply supported grain filling, and the simultaneous increase in both area and yield drove a substantial production rise. Among other Southern African countries, Zambia, Angola, and Mozambique exhibited varied performances due to differing meteorological conditions. Overall, during the monitoring period, total maize production in the Southern Hemisphere reached approximately 233 million tons, marking a substantial increase of 12% compared with 2025 (Table 1.3).

Within South America, Argentina’s maize growing season was initially affected by La Niña‑related drought in its early stage, which capped the potential yield ceiling; however, later‑season precipitation improved markedly, consolidating maize yields. The annual total maize production for Argentina was approximately 52.7 million tons, a slight decrease of about 93,000 tons, or 0.18%, from the previous season’s 52.79 million tons, remaining generally stable. In Brazil, the first‑season maize saw reductions in both area and yield, due to higher comparative returns from soybeans and insufficient rainfall during the growing season in southern producing regions. The second‑season maize, driven by strong domestic feed demand and promising export prospects, experienced a substantial expansion in planted area; although below‑average rainfall in the central‑western and southern regions exerted some pressure on yields, the area increase was sufficient to offset yield losses. Taking all factors together, Brazil’s total annual maize production reached approximately 138.7 million tons, an increase of 17.40% over the previous season, setting a historic high. In summary, the production increase in Brazil during the monitoring period was primarily driven by the expansion of the second‑season maize area; although the yield decline partially offset some of the gains, it was not enough to overturn the record‑high total production. In Mexico, the autumn‑winter maize harvest was largely completed, with the autumn‑winter planting area estimated at about 871,000 ha, an increase of 18%; yield was approximately 6,544 kg/ha, up 13%; and total production was about 5.7 million tons, an increase of 33%. During the current monitoring period, slightly above‑average precipitation and near‑normal temperatures generally favored soil moisture formation and sowing initiation, with overall good sowing conditions for the spring‑summer main‑season maize.

Among the major African maize‑producing countries, South Africa’s maize planted area was approximately 4.136 million ha, expanding by 3.0% compared with 2025; yield was estimated at about 5,676 kg/ha, up 7.2% from 5,292 kg/ha in the previous year; and total production was about 23.48 million tons, a 10.4% increase from 22.99 million tons last year. Adequate water supply during the monitoring period supported grain filling, and the joint increase in area and yield drove a significant production rise, further consolidating South Africa’s position as a leading maize producer in Africa. Among other major maize‑producing countries in Southern Africa, performances varied markedly: Zambia’s maize production was approximately 3.94 million tons, up 6.0% from 2025, showing a notable recovery growth as the second largest maize producer in Southern Africa. Kenya’s maize production was approximately 2.54 million tons, up 3.9% from 2025; Mozambique’s maize production was approximately 2.25 million tons, down 2.2% from 2025; and Angola’s maize production was approximately 3.20 million tons, down 2.2% from 2025. Overall, due to uneven precipitation distribution across Southern Africa, production changes varied by country, reflecting differing agricultural resilience to climate variability in the region.

Table 1.3 Production for major maize‑producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere (March–May 2026)