Soybeans production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 1.8 million t of soybeans, the 12th largest in the world (0.46% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 95%. The record was 2.8 million t in 2023. Area harvested: 1.2 million ha, yield 1.6 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 1.8 million t
- World rank
- 12 of 102
- 10-year change
- +95%
- Record
- 2.8 million t
- 2023
Soybeans in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.46%
- 0.31% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 1.6
- world 2.8 (−42%)
- kg per person
- 28.9
- world 48.7
- 10-year change
- +95%
- world +30%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bolivia | 3,216,440 | 0.81% |
| 11 | Uruguay | 3,065,000 | 0.77% |
| 12 | South Africa | 1,848,000 | 0.46% |
| 13 | Nigeria | 1,150,000 | 0.29% |
| 14 | Italy | 1,125,580 | 0.28% |
Map of world production of soybeans
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 | 1,848,000 | −33% | 1,150,500 | 1.61 |
| 2023 | 2,770,000 | +24% | 1,148,300 | 2.41 |
| 2022 | 2,230,000 | +18% | 925,300 | 2.41 |
| 2021 | 1,897,000 | +52% | 827,100 | 2.29 |
| 2020 | 1,245,500 | +6.4% | 705,000 | 1.77 |
| 2019 | 1,170,345 | −24% | 730,500 | 1.60 |
| 2018 | 1,540,000 | +17% | 787,200 | 1.96 |
| 2017 | 1,316,000 | +77% | 573,950 | 2.29 |
| 2016 | 742,000 | −31% | 502,800 | 1.48 |
| 2015 | 1,070,000 | +13% | 687,300 | 1.56 |
| 2014 | 948,000 | +21% | 502,900 | 1.89 |
| 2013 | 784,500 | +21% | 516,500 | 1.52 |
| 2012 | 650,000 | −8.5% | 472,000 | 1.38 |
| 2011 | 710,000 | +25% | 418,000 | 1.70 |
| 2010 | 566,000 | +9.7% | 311,450 | 1.82 |
| 2009 | 516,000 | +83% | 237,750 | 2.17 |
| 2008 | 282,000 | +38% | 165,400 | 1.70 |
| 2007 | 205,000 | −52% | 183,000 | 1.12 |
| 2006 | 424,000 | +56% | 240,570 | 1.76 |
| 2005 | 272,500 | +24% | 150,000 | 1.82 |
| 2004 | 220,000 | +61% | 135,000 | 1.63 |
| 2003 | 136,520 | −39% | 100,130 | 1.36 |
| 2002 | 223,000 | −1.4% | 124,150 | 1.80 |
| 2001 | 226,210 | +47% | 134,150 | 1.69 |
| 2000 | 153,925 | −23% | 93,790 | 1.64 |
| 1999 | 199,000 | −7.4% | 130,500 | 1.52 |
| 1998 | 215,000 | +119% | 125,000 | 1.72 |
| 1997 | 98,000 | +23% | 71,000 | 1.38 |
| 1996 | 80,000 | +37% | 68,000 | 1.18 |
| 1995 | 58,200 | −7.8% | 65,000 | 0.90 |
| 1994 | 63,100 | −8.0% | 55,000 | 1.15 |
| 1993 | 68,600 | +9.1% | 46,000 | 1.49 |
| 1992 | 62,900 | −50% | 83,000 | 0.76 |
| 1991 | 126,000 | +6.6% | 87,000 | 1.45 |
| 1990 | 118,200 | +50% | 61,000 | 1.94 |
| 1989 | 78,600 | +20% | 44,000 | 1.79 |
| 1988 | 65,300 | +87% | 40,000 | 1.63 |
| 1987 | 34,900 | −7.9% | 33,000 | 1.06 |
| 1986 | 37,900 | −5.0% | 30,000 | 1.26 |
| 1985 | 39,900 | +2.6% | 23,000 | 1.73 |
| 1984 | 38,900 | +36% | 35,000 | 1.11 |
| 1983 | 28,700 | +34% | 30,000 | 0.96 |
| 1982 | 21,448 | −22% | 22,000 | 0.97 |
| 1981 | 27,600 | −31% | 22,000 | 1.25 |
| 1980 | 39,900 | +51% | 28,300 | 1.41 |
| 1979 | 26,400 | −34% | 26,000 | 1.02 |
| 1978 | 40,100 | +35% | 25,400 | 1.58 |
| 1977 | 29,700 | +66% | 25,000 | 1.19 |
| 1976 | 17,900 | −21% | 22,000 | 0.81 |
| 1975 | 22,700 | +6.1% | 24,000 | 0.95 |
| 1974 | 21,400 | +365% | 13,000 | 1.65 |
| 1973 | 4,600 | +130% | 9,000 | 0.51 |
| 1972 | 2,000 | −31% | 8,000 | 0.25 |
| 1971 | 2,900 | −62% | 7,000 | 0.41 |
| 1970 | 7,700 | +5.5% | 14,164 | 0.54 |
| 1969 | 7,300 | +78% | 13,354 | 0.55 |
| 1968 | 4,100 | −8.9% | 12,545 | 0.33 |
| 1967 | 4,500 | +61% | 11,300 | 0.40 |
| 1966 | 2,800 | −6.7% | 7,000 | 0.40 |
| 1965 | 3,000 | 0.0% | 7,000 | 0.43 |
| 1964 | 3,000 | +27% | 7,000 | 0.43 |
| 1963 | 2,359 | −10% | 5,000 | 0.47 |
| 1962 | 2,631 | 0.0% | 5,000 | 0.53 |
| 1961 | 2,631 | — | 5,000 | 0.53 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 150,412 t USD 71.0 m
- Exporter rank
- 14 of 99
- Imports
- 62,468 t USD 23.2 m
- Importer rank
- 58 of 165
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of soybeans in South Africa?
South Africa produced 1.8 million t in 2024, 0.46% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of soybeans?
South Africa ranked 12th of 102 countries in 2024. The largest producer was Brazil with 36.3% of the world total.
How has the production of soybeans in South Africa changed?
It rose by 95% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +30% for the world. The record was 2.8 million t in 2023.
What is the yield of soybeans in South Africa?
1.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (1.8 million t from 1.2 million ha), against a world average of 2.8 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import soya beans?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 150,412 t (USD 71.0 m) and imports of 62,468 t (USD 23.2 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 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.