How to Find the Largest Corn Exporters in the World
Corn is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, with an estimated production of 1.2 billion metric tons in 2022/2023. It is used for various purposes, such as food, feed, fuel, and industrial products. Corn is also a major commodity in international trade, with a total export value of $62.5 billion in 2022.
But which countries are the largest corn exporters in the world? And how can you find reliable and up-to-date information on this topic? In this article, we will answer these questions and provide you with some useful tips and resources to help you with your research.
The Top Five Corn Exporters in the World
According to the latest data from Statista, the top five corn exporters in the world in 2022/2023 are:
1. United States
The US is the undisputed leader in corn exports, with a projected volume of 53 million metric tons, accounting for 30.5% of the global market share. The US has a large and efficient corn production system, supported by favorable climatic conditions, advanced technology, and government subsidies. The main destinations for US corn exports are Mexico, Japan, Colombia, South Korea, and China.
2. Brazil
Brazil is the second-largest corn exporter in the world, with an expected volume of 43.4 million metric tons, representing 19.6% of the global market share. Brazil has a diversified and competitive agricultural sector, with two corn harvests per year: one in the summer and one in the winter. The main destinations for Brazilian corn exports are Iran, Japan, Vietnam, Egypt, and Taiwan.
3. Argentina
Argentina is the third-largest corn exporter in the world, with an estimated volume of 33 million metric tons, accounting for 13.8% of the global market share. Argentina has a rich and fertile land, with a favorable climate for corn cultivation. The main destinations for Argentine corn exports are Algeria, Vietnam, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.
4. Ukraine
Ukraine is the fourth-largest corn exporter in the world, with a projected volume of 25.2 million metric tons, representing 9.6% of the global market share. Ukraine has a strategic location between Europe and Asia, with access to major ports on the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The main destinations for Ukrainian corn exports are China, Egypt, Spain, Iran, and Turkey.
5. France
France is the fifth-largest corn exporter in the world, with an expected volume of 5.1 million metric tons, accounting for 3.8% of the global market share. France has a diversified and modern agricultural sector, with high-quality standards and environmental regulations. The main destinations for French corn exports are Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Germany.
The Global Corn Trade: Trends and Challenges
Corn, also known as maize, is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed crops in the world. It is used for human food, animal feed, biofuel, industrial products and more. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), global corn production reached a record high of 1.14 billion metric tons in 2020/21, up 2% from the previous year. However, the global corn trade also faced some challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, weather disruptions, trade disputes and changing demand patterns.
In this blog post, we will examine the trends and challenges of the global corn trade in 2020/21, focusing on the top exporters and importers of corn, as well as the factors that influenced their performance.
Top Corn Exporters in 2020/21
The top five corn exporters in 2020/21 were the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine and France, accounting for 77.3% of the total corn exports by value. The following table shows their export volumes and values, as well as their market shares and growth rates from 2019/20.
| Country | Export Volume (metric tons) | Export Value (US$ billion) | Market Share (%) | Growth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 58.6 million | 19 | 30.5 | 0.01 |
| Brazil | 43.4 million | 12.3 | 19.6 | 237.2 |
| Argentina | 33 million | 8.6 | 13.8 | -5.2 |
| Ukraine | 25.2 million | 6 | 9.6 | 2 |
| France | 5.1 million | 2.4 | 3.8 | 21.7 |
The United States remained the largest corn exporter in the world, despite a slight decline in its export volume due to lower production and higher domestic consumption. The U.S. corn exports benefited from strong demand from China, Mexico, Japan and South Korea, as well as competitive prices and favorable exchange rates.
Brazil was the second largest corn exporter in the world, and the fastest-growing among the top five. Brazil’s corn exports surged by more than three-fold from 2019/20, thanks to a record harvest of its second crop (safrinha), which offset the losses from its first crop (verão) due to drought. Brazil’s main export destinations were China, Iran, Vietnam and Egypt.
Argentina was the third largest corn exporter in the world, but experienced a slight decrease in its export volume and value from 2019/20. Argentina’s corn exports were affected by lower production due to dry weather conditions, as well as export restrictions imposed by the government to ensure domestic food security. Argentina’s main export markets were Algeria, Vietnam, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine was the fourth largest corn exporter in the world, and increased its export volume slightly from 2019/20. Ukraine’s corn exports were supported by high yields and strong demand from China, Egypt, Iran and Turkey. However, Ukraine also faced some challenges such as logistical bottlenecks, currency fluctuations and political uncertainties.
France was the fifth largest corn exporter in the world, and grew its export volume and value by more than 20% from 2019/20. France’s corn exports benefited from higher production due to favorable weather conditions, as well as increased demand from China, Spain, Portugal and Italy. France also had a competitive advantage in terms of quality and sustainability standards.
Top Corn Importers in 2020/21
The top five corn importers in 2020/21 were China, Mexico, Japan, Egypt and Vietnam, accounting for 59% of the total corn imports by value. The following table shows their import volumes and values, as well as their market shares and growth rates from 2019/20.
| Country | Import Volume (metric tons) | Import Value (US$ billion) | Market Share (%) | Growth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 28 million | 7.8 | 12.5 | 135 |
| Mexico | 18 million | 5.1 | 8.2 | -1 |
| Japan | 15 million | 4.3 | 6.9 | -4 |
| Egypt | 10 million | 2.8 | 4.5 | 10 |
| Vietnam | 9.8 million | 2.7 | 4.4 | 16 |
China was the largest corn importer in the world, and more than doubled its import volume and value from 2019/20. China’s corn imports soared to a record high due to a combination of factors, such as lower domestic production, higher domestic consumption, lower global prices, trade agreements and stockpiling. China’s main sources of corn imports were Brazil, the United States, Ukraine and Argentina.
Mexico was the second largest corn importer in the world, but decreased its import volume and value slightly from 2019/20. Mexico’s corn imports were mainly driven by its domestic feed demand, especially for the poultry and livestock sectors. Mexico’s main supplier of corn imports was the United States, which accounted for more than 90% of its total imports.
Japan was the third largest corn importer in the world, but reduced its import volume and value moderately from 2019/20. Japan’s corn imports were mainly used for animal feed, as well as food and industrial purposes. Japan’s main providers of corn imports were the United States, Brazil, Ukraine and Argentina.
Egypt was the fourth largest corn importer in the world, and increased its import volume and value by 10% from 2019/20. Egypt’s corn imports were mainly used for animal feed, as well as human food and biofuel. Egypt’s main origins of corn imports were Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil and Romania.
Vietnam was the fifth largest corn importer in the world, and grew its import volume and value by 16% from 2019/20. Vietnam’s corn imports were mainly used for animal feed, especially for the swine and poultry sectors. Vietnam’s main sources of corn imports were Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine and Cambodia.
The global corn trade in 2020/21 was characterized by high production, high consumption, high prices and high volatility. The top exporters and importers of corn faced various opportunities and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, weather disruptions, trade disputes and changing demand patterns. The global corn trade is expected to remain dynamic and competitive in the coming years, as new players emerge and new factors influence the market.
References:
http://faostat.fao.org/Portals/_Faostat/documents/pdf/FAOSTAT-Forestry-def-e.pdf
https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/export/show/all/1005/2016/
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/grain.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/grain.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Brasilia_Brazil_12-10-2021.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Brasilia_Brazil_12-10-2021.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Buenos%20Aires_Argentina_12-15-2021.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Buenos%20Aires_Argentina_12-15-2021.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Kyiv_Ukraine_11-30-2021.pdf
https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Kyiv_Ukraine_11-30-2021.pdf
Essential Topics You Should Be Familiar With:
