India’s maize exports expected to rise to 2.4 million tonnes

23-Jun-2026 04:28 PM

Mumbai: India’s maize (corn) exports are expected to increase significantly to around 2.4 million tonnes during the current marketing season (October–September 2025–26), driven by better production, weak domestic prices, and strong demand from importing countries.

According to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office in India under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), maize exports from India are projected to surge to this higher level based on recent trade trends. Interestingly, the USDA’s earlier monthly report had estimated exports at only 1 million tonnes for the same period.

Recent data shows that India exported 996,000 tonnes of maize between November 2025 and March 2026, more than three times higher than the same period last season. On average, about 200,000 tonnes of maize are being exported every month this year.

Key buyers of Indian maize include Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. These countries prefer Indian maize due to its lower cost and quicker, more economical logistics compared to suppliers such as the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. In some cases, maize is also transported via road to Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

According to USDA Post, maize exports may decline in the 2026–27 season after this strong performance year.