10 Maize Producing Countries in the World

Maize, also known as corn, is one of the most important cereals in the world. It is a versatile crop that can be used for food, feed, fuel and industrial purposes. In this article, we will explore the top 10 maize producing countries in the world, based on the latest data from FAO.

1. United States of America

The United States of America is the largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 383.9 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in almost every state, but the major producing regions are the Midwest and the Great Plains. Maize is mainly used for animal feed, ethanol production and export.

2. China

China is the second largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 272.6 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in most provinces, but the main producing areas are Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia and Henan. Maize is mainly used for food, feed and industrial purposes.

3. Brazil

Brazil is the third largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 88.5 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in all regions, but the main producing states are Mato Grosso, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás. Maize is mainly used for feed, ethanol production and export.

4. Argentina

Argentina is the fourth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 51 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in the central and northern parts of the country, especially in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Santa Fe provinces. Maize is mainly used for feed and export.

5. Ukraine

Ukraine is the fifth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 39.2 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in the southern and central regions of the country, especially in Odessa, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. Maize is mainly used for feed and export.

6. India

India is the sixth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 30 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown in almost all states, but the main producing ones are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar. Maize is mainly used for food, feed and starch production.

7. Mexico

Mexico is the seventh largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 28 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown throughout the country, but the main producing states are Sinaloa, Jalisco, Guanajuato and Chiapas. Maize is mainly used for food, especially tortillas and other traditional dishes.

8. France

France is the eighth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 16 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown mainly in the southwest and central parts of the country, especially in Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées and Centre regions. Maize is mainly used for feed and ethanol production.

9. South Africa

South Africa is the ninth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 15.9 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown mainly in the eastern and northern parts of the country, especially in Mpumalanga, Free State and North West provinces. Maize is mainly used for food and feed.

10. Indonesia

Indonesia is the tenth largest producer of maize in the world, with an output of 13 million tonnes in 2021. Maize is grown throughout the country, but the main producing provinces are East Java, Central Java and West Java. Maize is mainly used for food and feed.

Maize Production Trends and Global Demand

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereals of the world, with a production of over 1.2 billion tonnes in 2021. It is a versatile crop that can be used for food, feed, fuel and industrial purposes. Maize is grown in almost all continents, but the major producers are the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina and Ukraine. In this blog post, we will examine the trends and drivers of maize production, consumption and trade, and their implications for the global demand in this industry.

Maize Production by Region and Country

According to FAO data, the global maize area harvested in 2020 was 197 million hectares, with an average yield of 5.8 tonnes per hectare. The total production was 1.14 billion tonnes, of which 49.2% came from the Americas, 32.1% from Asia, 11% from Europe and 7.1% from Africa. The top 10 maize-producing countries in 2020 were:

Rank	Country	Production (tonnes)
1	United States	358,447,310
2	China	260,670,000
3	Brazil	103,963,620
4	Argentina	51,500,000
5	Ukraine	39,200,000
6	India	28,900,000
7	Mexico	27,700,000
8	France	18,800,000
9	South Africa	16,100,000
10	Indonesia	13,500,000

Source: FAOStat (2021)

In 2021, the global maize production is estimated to increase by 6.6% to reach 1.22 billion tonnes, mainly due to higher yields and area expansion in the United States and China. The United States is expected to produce 383.9 million tonnes of maize in 2021, an increase of 7.1% from the previous year, as favorable weather conditions boosted yields and farmers planted more maize in response to high prices and strong demand. China is expected to produce 272.6 million tonnes of maize in 2021, an increase of 4.6% from the previous year, as the government encouraged farmers to increase maize planting to reduce reliance on imports and ensure food security.

Maize Consumption by Sector and Region

Maize is consumed for various purposes, such as human food, animal feed, biofuel and industrial uses. The global maize consumption in 2020 was estimated at 1.15 billion tonnes, of which 61% was used for animal feed, 15% for human food, 12% for biofuel and 12% for other industrial uses. The consumption patterns vary by region and country depending on the availability, preferences and policies.

The largest consumer of maize for human food is Africa, where maize accounts for 30% of the total calorie intake and 50% of the total cereal consumption. Maize is consumed as a staple food in various forms such as porridge (ugali), bread (injera), dumplings (sadza) and snacks (popcorn). The largest consumers of maize for human food in Africa are Nigeria (11 million tonnes), Ethiopia (8 million tonnes) and Kenya (4 million tonnes).

The largest consumer of maize for animal feed is Asia, where maize accounts for 35% of the total feed use and 60% of the total cereal feed use. Maize is used as a feed ingredient for poultry, pigs, cattle and aquaculture. The largest consumers of maize for animal feed in Asia are China (191 million tonnes), India (20 million tonnes) and Indonesia (10 million tonnes).

The largest consumer of maize for biofuel is the Americas, where maize accounts for 80% of the total biofuel use and 90% of the total cereal biofuel use. Maize is used as a feedstock for ethanol production, which is blended with gasoline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security. The largest consumers of maize for biofuel in the Americas are the United States (132 million tonnes) and Brazil (29 million tonnes).

Maize Trade by Region and Country

Maize is one of the most widely traded commodities in the world, with an annual trade volume of over 170 million tonnes in 2020. The main drivers of maize trade are the differences in production and consumption patterns across regions and countries, as well as the price competitiveness, quality and availability of maize. The main exporters of maize are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine and France, while the main importers are China, Mexico, Japan, the European Union and Egypt.

The United States is the largest exporter of maize in the world, accounting for 37% of the global export market in 2020. The United States exported 63 million tonnes of maize in 2020, mainly to Mexico (16 million tonnes), Japan (14 million tonnes) and China (11 million tonnes). The United States has a competitive advantage in maize production due to its large and efficient farm sector, advanced technology and infrastructure, and favorable climate and soil conditions.

Brazil is the second largest exporter of maize in the world, accounting for 18% of the global export market in 2020. Brazil exported 31 million tonnes of maize in 2020, mainly to Japan (6 million tonnes), Vietnam (5 million tonnes) and Iran (4 million tonnes). Brazil has a competitive advantage in maize production due to its large land area, abundant water resources, favorable climate and soil conditions, and low production costs.

China is the largest importer of maize in the world, accounting for 23% of the global import market in 2020. China imported 39 million tonnes of maize in 2020, mainly from the United States (11 million tonnes), Ukraine (10 million tonnes) and Brazil (7 million tonnes). China has a growing demand for maize due to its rapid economic development, population growth, urbanization and dietary diversification. China also faces challenges in meeting its domestic demand due to limited land and water resources, environmental degradation and climate change.

Maize is a vital crop for global food security, livelihoods and economic development. It is also a dynamic crop that responds to changing market conditions, consumer preferences and policy interventions. The global demand for maize is expected to increase in the coming years, driven by population growth, income growth, urbanization and dietary diversification. The global supply of maize is also expected to increase, driven by technological advances, yield improvements and area expansion. However, there are also challenges and uncertainties that may affect the future of maize production, consumption and trade, such as climate change, pests and diseases, trade disputes and policy changes. Therefore, there is a need for continuous research and development to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of maize systems.

References:

http://www.igc.int/downloads/gmrsummary/gmrsumme.pdf

http://teosinte.wisc.edu/pdfs/YV_Directional_Evol.pdf

http://oar.icrisat.org/10349/1/10.1007%252Fs10709-017-9981-y.pdf

http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-394437-5.XXXX-X
https://scienceagri.com/top-10-worlds-biggest-maize-producing-countries/
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http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-022-01288-7

https://knoema.com/atlas/topics/Agriculture/Crops-Production-Quantity-tonnes/Maize-production