The INCB, based in Vienna, issues production quotas for scheduled drugs from cannabis to codene, heroin and other narcotics with pharmaceutical uses, based on input from UN members.
South Africa remains Africa’s leading cannabis exporter with an International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) quota of 20, 010 kg for the year, an estimate unchanged from six months ago. Behind South Africa are relative newcomers to the market – the DRC (20 000 kg) and Ghana (15 000 kg).
The INCB June 2026 quotas confirm that the UK (299,157 kg), and Canada (297 427 kg) continue to dominate world medical cannabis production, with Germany (185 000 kg) in third place. The figures are based on production estimates generated by each country. Germany’s quota has been significantly increased, making it less reliant on imports.
The new figures show that Africa’s output has risen this year, due mainly to the DRC and Malawi submitting estimates to the INCB for the first time.
Country. Quota in kg
South Africa 20 010
DRC 20 000
Ghana 15 000
Lesotho 9 506
Zimbabwe 7 008
Malawi 3 300
Total 74 824
The top 5 global medical cannabis producers as on June 2026 are:
Country Quota in kg
UK. 299 157
Canada 297 427
Germany 185 000
Jordan 100 000
Israel 90 000
Total 971 584
South Africa clearly still has a long way to go if it is to fulfil the President’s desire for the country to be a leading producer of cannabis and hemp. It’s cannabis export quota for 2026, as determined by the INCB, is only 20 tons, way behind the UK (299 tons),USA ( the world’s top medical cannabis producer.
A look at this year’s medical cannabis producers, as per the quotas determined by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), shows that Africa has failed to meaningfully penetrate the international market, compared to other producers in the Global South. By contrast, countries such as Colombia have leveraged their low-cost production advantage into European market access. Colombia has become Latin America’s cannabis success story with the industry having worked closely with European importers from the start, to develop protocols and products (for example freeze-dried cannabis) for medical cannabis patients.
The three top ICBS Latin American medical cannabis production quotas 2026 in kilograms.
Country Quota in kg
Colombia 80,999
Costa Rica 78,878
Uruguay: 35 348
The main European bloc producers are:
Country Quota in kg
United Kingdom 299,157
Germany 185 000
Denmark 52,603
Portugal 37,832
Spain 31,272
Greece 7,150
Netherlands 7,000
Note that Germany’s production quota has been radically revised upwards since January 2026 when it was set at 13,700 kg.
Globally, the other major medical cannabis exporters by quota are:
Country Quota in kg
Jordan 100 000
Israel 74,000
Australia 66,244
Switzerland 31 000
Thailand 13,000
New Zealand 12,415
A notable new entry into the June INCB is Ukraine, which has rapidly developed its medical cannabis sector since the Russian invasion five years ago. It has a production quota of 6 080 kg for 2026.
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