Maize flour and cereals market in Hungary

Earlier Report Observations

After an initial decline in 2019 driven by a 10% decrease in total cereal production, the Hungarian maize flour and cereals market recovered in 2020, supported by sustained consumer trends favoring organic and locally sourced food products.

A sharp contraction followed in 2021-2022, primarily due to extreme drought and heatwaves that shrank the harvested maize area by over 22% to its lowest level in 15 years, drastically reducing output. This was compounded by new government export licensing for cereals and competitive pressure from cheap Ukrainian flour imports, which affected domestic market conditions.

A partial rebound in 2023 was followed by renewed weather challenges in 2024, when another extreme heatwave damaged over 75 000 hectares of cropland. Despite this, growth in cereal export value and volume, alongside rising household purchasing power, indicated market adaptation to the evolving climate and trade landscape.

Production maize flour and cereals in Hungary

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2018-2021

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2018-2021

In 2021, Hungary produced 967 thousand tons of maize flour and cereals, marking a 23.0% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 20.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 7.4%. The highest production level was recorded in 2020 at 1,255 thousand tons, with the largest year-on-year increase of 12.0% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, K t

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

In 2021, the value of maize flour and cereals output in Hungary was 337.6 million US dollars, showing a modest decline of 7.9% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, production value decreased by 15.1%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -5.3%. The most significant drop occurred in 2019 at 11.7%, while the largest increase was in 2020 at 4.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Hungary in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Exports maize flour and cereals from Hungary

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, Hungary exported 44,051 tons of maize flour and cereals, representing a substantial decline of 11.9% from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports decreased by 7.2%, with an average annual reduction of 2.4%. The peak export volume was recorded in 2020 at 50,012 tons, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 11.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Romania, Italy, and Poland were the key destinations for Hungary's maize flour and cereals exports in volume terms. Romania accounted for 31.4% of exports, Italy for 16.3%, and Poland for 9.4%, together making up 57.1% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Hungary's maize flour and cereals exports increased for the second consecutive year in 2021, reaching 15,383 thousand US dollars, a moderate rise of 5.4% compared to 2020. The lowest export value was recorded in 2019 at 13,997 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 9.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Romania, Italy, and Slovakia were the leading markets for Hungary's maize flour and cereals exports in value terms. Romania represented 29.6% of exports, Italy 17.2%, and Slovakia 8.6%, collectively accounting for 55.4% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Hungary in value, 2018-2021

Imports maize flour and cereals to Hungary

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, Hungary imported 4,316 tons of maize flour and cereals, a strong decrease of 13.4% from the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, imports fell by 50.9%, with an average annual decline of 21.1%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 4,209 tons, which also saw the largest drop of 52.1%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2020 at 18.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021, t

Over the period 2018–2021, Austria, Romania, and the Netherlands were the main suppliers of maize flour and cereals to Hungary in volume terms. Austria contributed 26.2% of imports, Romania 21.3%, and the Netherlands 13.9%, together comprising 61.4% of total import volumes.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Hungary's maize flour and cereals imports increased for the second consecutive year in 2021, totaling 4,813 thousand US dollars, up by 3.3% from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports grew by 8.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%. The lowest import value was in 2019 at 3,687 thousand US dollars, which also recorded the largest decline of 16.7%. The largest increase was in 2020 at 26.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands were the primary suppliers of maize flour and cereals to Hungary in value terms. Poland accounted for 24.4% of imports, Germany for 21.6%, and the Netherlands for 18.0%, jointly representing 64.1% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Hungary in value, 2018-2021