South African soybeans
Soybeans for crushing and feed, harvested April to June and sourced through our AAPP farmers and partner growers in the Free State and Mpumalanga.
About the crop
Soybeans are the seed of the legume Glycine max. South Africa’s crop has grown sharply over the last decade as local crushing capacity expanded, and the country now produces over two million tonnes in a good season, mostly in Mpumalanga, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
The beans are planted from October to December and harvested from April to June. Locally, most of the crop is crushed into soybean oil and high-protein meal for animal feed, with a smaller share used for human food products. Soybeans also fix nitrogen, which makes them a natural rotation crop with maize.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | Whole beans and soymeal |
| Grade | Class SB, Grade SB1 |
| Moisture | 13% maximum |
| Foreign matter | 5% maximum (7% with sclerotia) |
| Protein and oil | Agreed with the buyer; tested on request |
| Packaging | Bulk; 50 kg bags |
| Delivery | Any: ex farm, ex Durban port, delivered SA, delivered cross-border via our logistics partners and clearing agents |
| Pricing | SAFEX soybean reference plus logistics |
Full SB1 grading limits
| Quality parameter | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 13% |
| Wet pods | 0.2% |
| Foreign matter, including stones, other grain and sunflower seed | 5% |
| Other grain | 0.5% |
| Sunflower seed | 0.1% |
| Stones | 1% |
| Sclerotia | 4% |
| Beans and bean pieces through the 4.75 mm round-hole screen, retained on the 1.8 mm slotted screen | 10% |
| Defective beans retained on the 4.75 mm round-hole screen | 10% |
| Soiled beans | 10% |
| Foreign matter and sclerotia combined | 7% |
Percentages are maximum limits by mass. Individual limits still apply within the combined limits. Grade SB1 must be free of live storage insects, undesirable odours, harmful substances, glass, metal, coal, dung and animal filth. Source: Government Notice R. 370, Government Gazette 40794, 21 April 2017.
For farmers
Soybeans sit alongside maize in our AAPP programme as a rotation crop. If you have land and want to plant soybeans with funded inputs and a guaranteed buyer, start there.
Enquire about soybeans
Volume, delivery point and whether you need whole beans or soymeal.
Go to the buyer formSAFEX reference prices
| R/t | Spot | Day |
|---|---|---|
| White maize | 3,979 | -1.34% |
| Yellow maize | 3,970 | -1.42% |
| Soybeans | 9,300 | -0.04% |
Closing trades, Tuesday 6 October 2026 (October contract). Source: Grain SA SAFEX feed. Reference only, not an offer.
Common questions
When is soybean harvest in South Africa?
April to June, after planting between October and December.
Where are soybeans grown in South Africa?
Mainly Mpumalanga, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, with growing areas in Limpopo and North West.
Do you sell soybean meal or only whole beans?
Both. Whole beans for crushing and soymeal for feed.
How are soybeans priced?
Off the JSE SAFEX soybean contract plus logistics.
Can I grow soybeans under your farmer programme?
Yes. See For farmers.
Contract soybeans from this harvest
Whole beans for crushing and feed, priced off SAFEX.
- Reply within two working days, from a person, not a bot
- Priced off SAFEX, delivered to your site or the border
- One counterparty from farm to delivery
Prefer email? info@theoriginalgraincompany.co.za