Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Corn industry worldwide - statistics & facts
The most produced grain in the world, corn, is a versatile crop with varied uses in consumer products, industrial products, biofuels, and processed foods. The United States alone is responsible for almost one-third of global corn production, with approximately 82 million acres of land devoted to corn harvesting. The U.S. and China together account for more than half of worldwide corn production.
Beyond the cob: A versatile crop
Much of the corn consumed by humans is highly processed field corn. During processing, the crop is either wet or milled, depending on the desired product. Wet millers process corn into high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), glucose and dextrose, starch, corn oil, alcohol, and fuel ethanol. Dry millers, on the other hand, process corn into flakes, corn flour, cornmeal, etc. Most corn produced in the world doesn’t directly appear on our plates. A large share of corn is used for feeding the livestock that produces eggs, meat, and dairy. It is also used as a main feedstock for ethanol, a widely used biofuel blended into petrol. Ethanol has helped keep corn in high demand, making it the most planted crop in the U.S.
Corn trade dynamics
While the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine are the leading corn exporters, Mexico and China are the leading importers of the crop. Despite being a leading producer of corn, China faces environmental challenges and land use changes. Additionally, the growing use of crops in livestock feed and industries exceeds the domestic production in the country. Corn prices and trade flows are not only sensitive to weather conditions but also biofuel policies and livestock sector demand, impacting its global supply. Since corn is the leading feed grain for livestock, fluctuations in its supply impact other feed grains like oats, barley, sorghum, and feed wheat. From cornerstone of global cuisines to its role in agriculture and energy, corn is the backbone of the global food, feed, and fuel system.Â
