Data from Potatoes SA indicates that the average national price for potatoes in South Africa experienced a 15% increase in the week leading up to August 28, following a severe black frost event in Limpopo province. This region, known for its contribution to the potato market, especially from July to December, faced its harshest frost in recent years, resulting in significant crop losses. Consequently, the price for a 10 kg bag of potatoes escalated to R85.31 from R74.24 in just one week, with areas such as Nelspruit and Cape Town witnessing prices nearing R100 per bag.
This price hike is notable against the backdrop of South Africa's recent food inflation trends, where July saw a deceleration to 3.9% from 4.1% in June, marking the lowest rate since January 2020. Additionally, consumer inflation in the country decreased to 4.6% year-on-year in July, down from 5.1% in June, reaching a three-year nadir. The country, which ranks as the third-largest potato producer in Africa with a 2023 output of 2.4 million tons, behind Egypt and Algeria, relies heavily on potatoes as a staple food, alongside maize meal and bread.
Source: News24