Johannesburg - Corn futures traded in South Africa, the continent’s largest producer of the grain, rose on concern rain will delay the start of the season.
White corn for delivery in December, the most active contract, gained 0.5 percent to 2,349 rand ($232) a metric ton by the close on the South African Futures Exchange in Johannesburg.
That was a seventh increase in eight sessions.
The yellow variety for the same delivery month rose 0.5 percent to 2,151 rand a ton.
“There are weather uncertainties,” Thys Grobbelaar, an analyst at Klerksdorp, South Africa-based Senwes Ltd., said by phone.
“Midsummer rains are expected, and this might make the season late. It’s not very good weather expected for the western areas of the country.”
North West province, which grows about 16 percent of the nation’s corn, was declared drought-stricken, the South African Press Association reported September 18, citing the local government.
A meal made from white corn is one of South Africa’s staple foods and the yellow variety is mostly fed to animals.
Wheat for delivery in December added 0.5 percent to 3,428 rand a ton, also a seventh advance in eight. - Bloomberg News