Market research

Maize market in China

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, China's maize market volume increased from 260.7 million tons to 271.9 million tons. This rise was supported by ongoing supply-side structural reforms that adjusted planting areas and promoted deep processing industries. The expansion of pig farming in 2019 significantly boosted feed maize demand, while the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted global supply chains, leading to higher import volumes to secure domestic stocks.

Market volume jumped to 300.9 million tons in 2021 due to tight supply-demand conditions and rising prices, which stimulated both domestic production and imports. In 2022, the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected Ukraine's maize exports, reducing China's import availability and contributing to a market stabilization at 297.8 million tons, though recovering pig farming maintained feed demand. By 2023, increased planting area and the growing trend of maize for direct human consumption helped push the market to 315.1 million tons.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in China
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2018-2023, M t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, M t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, M t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production maize in China

In kind, 2017-2020, M t

From 2017 to 2020, China maintained its position as the world's second-largest producer of maize.

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, China produced 260.7 million tonnes of maize, showing little change from 2019. Production reached its lowest point in 2018 at 257.2 million tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 260.8 million tonnes. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 0.7%, followed by the biggest increase in 2019 at 1.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2017-2020, M t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	1.4%	(0.0%)	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize from China

Exports in kind, K t

The market showed significant fluctuations during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2020, while the highest occurred in 2017, representing a 27-fold difference between these years. In 2020, China's maize exports amounted to 3 000 tonnes, marking a sharp 90.2% decrease compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 113.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(82.5%)	113.9%	(90.2%)	(66.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, North Korea (57.7% of exports in kind), Japan (18.2%), and Canada (8.0%) together accounted for 84.0% of China's total maize exports in kind, making them the primary destinations.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited considerable volatility during these years. Exports reached their peak in 2017 and their lowest point in 2020, with a 4.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, China exported maize worth 4 million US dollars, representing a 55.7% reduction compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 68.2%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2019 at 65.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(68.2%)	65.2%	(55.7%)	(38.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, North Korea (40.6% of exports in value terms), Vietnam (25.7%), and Japan (11.9%) were the main markets for China's maize exports in value terms, together accounting for 78.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize to China

Imports in kind, K t

China's maize imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 11 241 000 tonnes, up by 134.6% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 297.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 58.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	24.6%	36.0%	134.6%	58.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, China's maize imports in kind were primarily directed towards Ukraine and the United States, whose combined share reached 93.2% of total flows, with other destinations playing a secondary role.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to China in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

China's foreign maize supplies increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 2 481 million US dollars, up by 133.8% relative to the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 312%, equating to an annualized rate of 60.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	30.7%	34.8%	133.8%	60.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, Ukraine and the United States clearly dominated China's maize imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 91.7% of total flows, while other countries held much smaller shares.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to China in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io