The maize milling industry employs approximately 5,300 workers . The average milling capacity utilisation is 3.7 million tonnes or 79.5% of the available capacity. The potential capacity is in the order of 5 million tonnes. 22 companies generate 85% of all maize milled within the country. The top 4 players are Pioneer, Premier Foods, Pride Milling and Tiger Brands. Large and very large millers mill over 4 Metric Tons (MT) per hour, whilst Medium-scale millers mill 1 to 4 MT per hour and Small-scale mills are involved in village level processing of 100kg to 1 MT per hour. To be successful small scale millers must overcome the following constraints in addition to high transport costs, the availability of maize and access to storage facilities.

Three products are produced by the milling industry: super maize-meal for human consumption, Special maize meal and maize for animal feed. Vertical Integration is high in the industry.

The grain milling sector plays a vital role in food security as its products are the primary ingredients of South Africa's staple foods, and the sector is a major determinant of the price of maize meal and bread. Pest infestation, droughts and other effects of climate change pose a threat to grain production and in the 2018/19 production season, most summer crop harvests fell due to dry weather conditions at the start of the season.

The cost of food manufacturing is influenced by the price of raw commodities and by non-food inputs such electricity, labour, packaging material and fuel. Transport and logistics can account for almost 35% of the final cost of maize products, and almost all freight in South Africa is transported by road, which is 30% more costly than rail.

For more information on milling company contact details, please see the following link: 4.6 Storage and Milling Companies Contact List.

Pride Milling Company