The Government has recently confirmed a 10 percent tax on exports of white maize grain. The introduction of the export duty was first announced in January with the approval of the 2017 national budget, however as an export ban was in place until April 2017 (FPMA Food Policies), the policy has only now become effective. With the start of the 2017/18 marketing year in May, the measure aims to support the exportation of processed higher-valued maize products; given the record high maize output forecast in 2017, exports of maize are expected to rise this year.