# Zimbabwe forecasts huge grain deficit amid El Nino-induced drought | Reuters

> Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the country's staple maize harvest is expected to halve to 1.1 million tons in 2024 because of El Nino-induced drought. He flagged a large grain deficit that threatens food security for poor households.

- Date: 2023-12-13 · published 2023-12-13T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region Zimbabwe · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/32485-zimbabwe-forecasts-huge-grain-deficit-amid-el-nino-induced-drought-reuters
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

Zimbabwe will need heavy grain imports, adding modest demand for corn and wheat from exporters, though the country's volume is small relative to world trade.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲
- WHEAT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2022-01-17 | [Brazil’s Drought Reduces Grain Harvest Forecasts](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13749-brazil-s-drought-reduces-grain-harvest-forecasts.md) | -0.5% | +6.0% |
| CORN | 2023-06-29 | [US Midwest drought expands, but forecast rains offer relief to crops \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/13268-us-midwest-drought-expands-but-forecast-rains-offer-relief-to-crops-reuters.md) | -2.5% | +2.0% |
| CORN | 2026-05-14 | [US forecaster says El Nino has 82% chance of developing by July \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19187-us-forecaster-says-el-nino-has-82-chance-of-developing-by-july-reuters.md) | -0.4% | -7.9% |
| CORN | 2024-05-09 | [El Nino to end by June, La Nina seen in second half of 2024, says U.S. forecaster \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30149-el-nino-to-end-by-june-la-nina-seen-in-second-half-of-2024-says-u-s-forecaster.md) | +2.7% | +0.5% |
| CORN | 2024-02-07 | [Shift from El Nino to La Nina portends rains in Asia, dryness in Americas \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31585-shift-from-el-nino-to-la-nina-portends-rains-in-asia-dryness-in-americas-reuters.md) | -1.1% | +0.3% |
| WHEAT | 2018-11-05 | [El Nino developing as Western Canada recovers from drought - Grainews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61973-el-nino-developing-as-western-canada-recovers-from-drought-grainews.md) | -4.2% | -3.1% |
| WHEAT | 2018-09-11 | [Drought bites in the east as ABARES forecasts 12pc cut to grain production - ABC News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/62980-drought-bites-in-the-east-as-abares-forecasts-12pc-cut-to-grain-production-abc.md) | -7.4% | -7.0% |
| WHEAT | 2023-12-06 | [How long will the El Nino last? Latest official forecasts - Grain Price News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32486-how-long-will-the-el-nino-last-latest-official-forecasts-grain-price-news.md) | -3.5% | +1.1% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/zimbabwe-forecasts-huge-grain-deficit-amid-el-nino-induced-drought-2023-12-13/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.