Kenaf production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 793 t of kenaf, the 16th largest in the world (0.34% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 6.8%. The record was 2,500 t in 1964. Area harvested: 1,194 ha, yield 0.7 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 793 t
- World rank
- 16 of 23
- 10-year change
- −6.8%
- Record
- 2,500 t
- 1964
Kenaf in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.34%
- 0.35% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 0.7
- world 1.5 (−56%)
- kg per person
- 0.01
- world 0.03
- 10-year change
- −6.8%
- world −4.2%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | El Salvador | 989 | 0.43% |
| 15 | Angola | 824 | 0.36% |
| 16 | South Africa | 793 | 0.34% |
| 17 | Ethiopia | 537 | 0.23% |
| 18 | Myanmar | 354 | 0.15% |
Map of world production of kenaf
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 793 | +0.6% | 1,194 | 0.66 |
| 2023 | 788 | −0.6% | 1,189 | 0.66 |
| 2022 | 793 | −0.8% | 1,184 | 0.67 |
| 2021 | 799 | −0.1% | 1,180 | 0.68 |
| 2020 | 800 | −0.7% | 1,200 | 0.67 |
| 2019 | 806 | −1.0% | 1,191 | 0.68 |
| 2018 | 814 | −1.2% | 1,176 | 0.69 |
| 2017 | 824 | −4.2% | 1,157 | 0.71 |
| 2016 | 860 | +3.9% | 1,177 | 0.73 |
| 2015 | 828 | −2.7% | 1,172 | 0.71 |
| 2014 | 851 | −5.4% | 1,153 | 0.74 |
| 2013 | 900 | +11% | 1,200 | 0.75 |
| 2012 | 810 | −3.7% | 1,150 | 0.70 |
| 2011 | 841 | −2.2% | 1,100 | 0.76 |
| 2010 | 860 | −4.4% | 1,100 | 0.78 |
| 2009 | 900 | −0.7% | 1,122 | 0.80 |
| 2008 | 906 | −2.8% | 1,100 | 0.82 |
| 2007 | 932 | −2.7% | 1,100 | 0.85 |
| 2006 | 958 | −2.7% | 1,100 | 0.87 |
| 2005 | 985 | −0.3% | 1,100 | 0.90 |
| 2004 | 988 | −1.9% | 1,074 | 0.92 |
| 2003 | 1,007 | −1.0% | 1,072 | 0.94 |
| 2002 | 1,017 | −2.4% | 1,066 | 0.95 |
| 2001 | 1,042 | −5.3% | 1,078 | 0.97 |
| 2000 | 1,100 | +10% | 1,100 | 1.00 |
| 1999 | 1,000 | −9.1% | 1,000 | 1.00 |
| 1998 | 1,100 | +4.4% | 1,122 | 0.98 |
| 1997 | 1,054 | +0.2% | 1,073 | 0.98 |
| 1996 | 1,052 | −0.1% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1995 | 1,053 | −0.1% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1994 | 1,054 | −0.1% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1993 | 1,055 | −0.1% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1992 | 1,056 | −0.1% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1991 | 1,057 | −4.6% | 1,100 | 0.96 |
| 1990 | 1,108 | −7.7% | 1,218 | 0.91 |
| 1989 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1988 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1987 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1986 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1985 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1984 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1983 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1982 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1981 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1980 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1979 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1978 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1977 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1976 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1975 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1974 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1973 | 1,200 | 0.0% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1972 | 1,200 | −40% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1971 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 2,000 | 1.00 |
| 1970 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 2,000 | 1.00 |
| 1969 | 2,000 | 0.0% | 2,000 | 1.00 |
| 1968 | 2,000 | +67% | 2,000 | 1.00 |
| 1967 | 1,200 | +9.1% | 1,100 | 1.09 |
| 1966 | 1,100 | −27% | 1,000 | 1.10 |
| 1965 | 1,500 | −40% | 1,500 | 1.00 |
| 1964 | 2,500 | +8.7% | 2,500 | 1.00 |
| 1963 | 2,300 | 0.0% | 2,300 | 1.00 |
| 1962 | 2,300 | 0.0% | 2,300 | 1.00 |
| 1961 | 2,300 | — | 2,300 | 1.00 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of kenaf in South Africa?
South Africa produced 793 t in 2024, 0.34% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of kenaf?
South Africa ranked 16th of 23 countries in 2024. The largest producer was India with 44.3% of the world total.
How has the production of kenaf in South Africa changed?
It fell by 6.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.2% for the world. The record was 2,500 t in 1964.
What is the yield of kenaf in South Africa?
0.7 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (793 t from 1,194 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for South Africa is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.