7 Top Corn Exporting Countries: A Comprehensive Guide

Corn is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, with an estimated production of over 1.1 billion metric tons in 2022/23. It is used for various purposes, such as animal feed, biofuel, food, and industrial products. In this article, we will explore the top corn exporting countries in the world, their export volumes, destinations, and challenges.

According to the data from Statista, the top corn exporters in 2022/23 are:

United States: 53 million metric tons
Brazil: 53 million metric tons
Argentina: 33 million metric tons
Ukraine: 31 million metric tons
France: 14 million metric tons
Romania: 13 million metric tons
Poland: 8 million metric tons

These seven countries account for about 77% of the global corn exports, which are projected to reach 287 million metric tons in 2022/23.

United States

The United States is the largest corn producer and exporter in the world, with a market share of about 30%. It exports corn mainly to Mexico, Japan, China, South Korea, and Colombia. The US corn exports are influenced by several factors, such as weather conditions, domestic demand, trade policies, and global competition.

Brazil

Brazil is the second-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 20%. It exports corn mainly to China, Iran, Japan, Vietnam, and Egypt. Brazil’s corn exports are driven by its large and expanding production, favorable exchange rate, and strong demand from China.

Argentina

Argentina is the third-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 14%. It exports corn mainly to Vietnam, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. Argentina’s corn exports are affected by its domestic policies, such as export taxes and quotas, as well as weather conditions and currency fluctuations.

Ukraine

Ukraine is the fourth-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 10%. It exports corn mainly to China, Egypt, Iran, Spain, and Turkey. Ukraine’s corn exports are supported by its low production costs, high yields, and proximity to major markets.

France

France is the fifth-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 4%. It exports corn mainly to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, and Germany. France’s corn exports are dependent on its domestic production, which varies depending on weather conditions and crop rotations.

Romania

Romania is the sixth-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 3%. It exports corn mainly to Egypt, Spain, Italy, Iran, and Turkey. Romania’s corn exports are influenced by its climatic conditions, domestic consumption, and regional competition.

Poland

Poland is the seventh-largest corn exporter in the world, with a market share of about 2%. It exports corn mainly to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and France. Poland’s corn exports are determined by its domestic production, which is subject to weather risks, and its demand from neighboring countries.

Some of the challenges that the top corn exporting countries face are:

Increasing competition from other suppliers, such as Russia, Serbia, South Africa, and India.
Rising production costs due to higher input prices, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds.
Fluctuating demand from major importers, such as China, which can affect prices and trade flows.
Environmental and social concerns related to the sustainability of corn production, such as water use, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.

To overcome these challenges, the top corn exporting countries need to:

Invest in research and development to improve their productivity, quality, and resilience to climate change.
Diversify their export markets and products to reduce their dependence on a few buyers and increase their value addition.
Enhance their trade facilitation and infrastructure to lower their transportation costs and improve their access to ports and markets.
Adopt best practices and standards to ensure their environmental and social responsibility and compliance with import regulations.

Top Corn Exporting Countries and Global Demand

Corn, also known as maize, is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed crops in the world. It is used for food, feed, fuel, and industrial purposes. In this blog post, we will look at the top corn exporting countries in 2022/23, the trends in global demand for corn, and some of the factors that affect the corn industry.

Top Corn Exporters in 2022/23

According to Statista, the top five corn exporters in 2022/23 are expected to be:

Country	Exports (in million metric tons)	Share of global exports
Brazil	53	19.6%
Argentina	33	13.8%
Ukraine	30	9.6%
United States	28	30.5%
France	10	3.8%

These five countries account for over three-quarters of the global corn exports. Brazil is projected to surpass the United States as the largest corn exporter in 2022/23, due to a record harvest and a weak currency that boosts its competitiveness in the international market. Argentina, Ukraine, and France are also major corn producers and exporters, benefiting from favorable weather conditions and strong demand from China and other Asian countries.

Global Demand for Corn

The global demand for corn is driven by various factors, such as population growth, income growth, dietary changes, biofuel production, and animal feed consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the global corn consumption is forecast to reach a record high of 1.2 billion metric tons in 2022/23, up by 3% from the previous year. The main drivers of this increase are:

China: The world’s largest corn consumer and importer, China is expected to consume 311 million metric tons of corn in 2022/23, up by 6% from the previous year. This is mainly due to the recovery of its hog sector from the African swine fever outbreak, which increases the demand for animal feed. China is also expanding its ethanol production capacity, which requires more corn as a feedstock.
Mexico: The second-largest corn importer, Mexico is projected to consume 50 million metric tons of corn in 2022/23, up by 4% from the previous year. This is mainly due to the growth of its poultry and livestock sectors, which consume more corn-based feed. Mexico is also a major consumer of corn for human food, especially tortillas and other products.
European Union: The third-largest corn importer, the European Union is forecast to consume 86 million metric tons of corn in 2022/23, up by 3% from the previous year. This is mainly due to the increased demand for biofuels, especially ethanol, which uses corn as a raw material. The European Union also consumes corn for animal feed and food processing.

Factors Affecting the Corn Industry

The corn industry is influenced by various factors that affect both the supply and demand sides of the market. Some of these factors are:

Weather: Weather conditions play a crucial role in determining the yield and quality of corn crops. Droughts, floods, frosts, pests, and diseases can reduce the production and increase the prices of corn. For example, in 2021/22, severe droughts affected the corn production in Brazil and Argentina, while excessive rains damaged the crops in France and Romania.
Trade policies: Trade policies can affect the flow and price of corn across countries. Tariffs, quotas, subsidies, sanctions, and trade agreements can create barriers or incentives for corn trade. For example, in 2018/19, the trade war between the United States and China resulted in higher tariffs on U.S. corn exports to China, which reduced the U.S. market share and increased the demand for other suppliers.
Exchange rates: Exchange rates can affect the competitiveness and profitability of corn exporters and importers. A depreciation of the local currency can make exports cheaper and imports more expensive, while an appreciation can have the opposite effect. For example, in 2021/22, the depreciation of the Brazilian real boosted the exports of Brazilian corn to China and other markets.

References:

https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/visualize/tree_map/hs92/export/show/all/1005/2016/

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
https://www.worldstopexports.com/corn-exports-country/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/254299/top-global-corn-exporters/
https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/corn
https://beef2live.com/story-ranking-countries-export-corn-88-206186