India’s maize exports decline sharply on higher domestic demand

India’s maize (corn) exports have declined sharply this year following a pick-up in domestic demand from segments such as ethanol manufacturers and feed makers. Besides, higher domestic prices have proved to be a dampener. Exports are taking place, but in limited quantities. During November and December, exports have taken place in good quantities, but before that the shipments were weak. However, compared to last year, the maize exports will be less,” said Rahul Chauhan of IGrain India.

On the other hand, the imports of maize into the country have increased, due to the demand from ethanol manufacturers, Chauhan said.

India doesn’t allow the imports of genetically modified (GM) corn. Ukraine and Myanmar are the only other major producers apart from India that grow the non-GMO maize. In 2024, imports of maize were over 8.8 lakh tonnes, he said. Of this 4.37 lakh tonnes were imported from Myanmar, while 4.45 lakh tonnes were imported from Ukraine and another 1,875 tonnes from Singapore.

“Exports of maize have stopped completely as we are not self-sufficient,” said Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India. “We were actually exporting to Nepal and South-East Asia, but hardly anything is going now as compared to earlier as everything is being consumed domestically,” Gulati said. Also, Indian corn prices are very high, which make shipments unviable. As a result of high prices, Nepal has allowed imports of GM corn, Gulati said.

Per DGCIS data, the value of maize shipments to Nepal dropped to $74.08 million this year till December ($104.41 million last year), Bangladesh $13.86 million ($72.72 million) and Malaysia $0.74 million ($14.50 m). Shipment to Bhutan have increased to $12.84 million ($8.01 m) and Sri Lanka 21.64 million ($3.06 million)

Gulati said India’s corn demand for 2024-25 is estimated at 47.51 million tonnes with bulk of the demand coming from the poultry feed segment at 22.25 million tonnes, 5.47 million tonnes from the cattle feed and 5.91 million tonnes from starch sector. The demand from fuel ethanol is estimated at 10.26 million tonnes. The industry estimates production at 32.62 million tonnes, with exports at around 2.7 lakh tonnes and imports of 1.2 million tonnes. Factoring a supply of other grains of around 2.75 million tonnes, the shortfall is estimated at over 11.6 million tonnes.

As per the Agriculture Ministry’s second advance estimate, the kharif 2024-25 maize production has been pegged at 24.81 million tonnes and the rabi 2025 output at 12.43 million tonnes.

Total maize output (kharif and rabi together) is estimated at 37.25 million tonnes. Maize is also grown as a summer crop in some states.