News Capsule: USDA: India’s maize production and consumption rise in 2025–26, stocks fall sharply. What next?
01-Dec-2025 11:09 AM
News Capsule: USDA: India’s maize production and consumption rise in 2025–26, stocks fall sharply. What next?
★ The USDA has released its latest estimates for India’s maize production, availability, and demand for the 2025–26 season. According to the report, production has increased this year.
Production and Availability
★ Maize production for 2025–26 is estimated at 43 million tonnes, slightly higher than 42.2 million tonnes in 2024–25. Total availability has also inched up to 45.8 million tonnes, compared with 45.4 million tonnes last year.
Consumption
★ Maize consumption is projected to rise significantly to 44 million tonnes in 2025–26, up from 42.5 million tonnes in 2024–25 and 37.9 million tonnes in 2023–24. According to the USDA, this increase is driven mainly by rising demand from the ethanol sector.
Ending Stocks
★ Ending stocks are expected to drop sharply. For 2025–26, ending stocks are estimated at just 1.453 million tonnes, compared with 2.3 million tonnes in 2024–25.
Domestic reality differs
★ While USDA numbers point toward a bullish outlook, the domestic market situation is quite different. Higher output and strong arrivals have kept warehouses well stocked across the country. The previous ethanol tender saw very low quantities being procured, which was a setback for ethanol manufacturers. The market now awaits the next tender to see how much quantity is offered.
Market outlook
★ With rising production, heavy stocks, and weak ethanol procurement, maize prices have been under continuous pressure. This trend is likely to persist, and prices may remain subdued in the near future.