Story by Tendai Munengwa
ZIMBABWE Mercantile Exchange has launched the 2025–2026 Summer Marketing Season Opening Auction, with maize prices reaching up to US$365 per metric tonne at the inaugural trading session held in Harare on Wednesday.
The live willing buyer–willing seller platform attracted strong participation from farmers, with more than 2 900 metric tonnes of produce, including maize and soybeans, traded. Payments are processed instantly or within three days, enhancing liquidity for producers.
ZMX Chief Executive Officer, Collins Tapfumanei, said the auction marked a positive start to the marketing season.
“We are excited that the inaugural live auction went well. Farmers sold about 1 600 tonnes of crops, with the highest price for white maize at US$365 per tonne and US$350 for yellow maize, while soya beans fetched US$550. It is a good start, and we encourage farmers with free stocks to utilise this platform, which allows them to trade maize and up to 49 other commodities from the comfort of their homes,” he said.
The launch coincides with the onset of harvesting for early-planted crops, positioning the platform as a transparent and competitive marketplace for agricultural commodities.
Authorities say the initiative is expected to improve price discovery and broaden market access for farmers across the country.
