> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/soy/)[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Production, 20241.8 million t
World rank12 of 102
10-year change+95%
Record2.8 million t2023

## Soybeans in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.46%0.31% in 2014
Yield, t/ha1.6world 2.8 (−42%)
kg per person28.9world 48.7
10-year change+95%world +30%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 | [Bolivia](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/bolivia/) | 3,216,440 | 0.81% |
| 11 | [Uruguay](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/uruguay/) | 3,065,000 | 0.77% |
| 12 | **South Africa** | 1,848,000 | 0.46% |
| 13 | [Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/nigeria/) | 1,150,000 | 0.29% |
| 14 | [Italy](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/italy/) | 1,125,580 | 0.28% |

[Full ranking of 102 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/)

### Map of world production of soybeans

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
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

Exports150,412 t USD 71.0 m
Exporter rank14 of 99
Imports62,468 t USD 23.2 m
Importer rank58 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](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/)

## 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

[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/brazil/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/united-states/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/argentina/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/india/)[Paraguay](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/paraguay/)[Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/canada/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/russia/)[Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/ukraine/)[Bolivia](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/bolivia/)[Uruguay](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/uruguay/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/nigeria/)
[All countries producing soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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