Maize market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, maize production in Eastern Asia grew steadily from 259.1 million t to 291.2 million t. This increase was primarily driven by consistent government policies, including subsidies for feed processing and deep-processing enterprises, as well as area control and yield enhancement initiatives. The launch of a national yield improvement program in 2020, which raised average yield by 0.9% annually through dense planting and precision irrigation, provided a sustained boost to output despite rising production costs.

The total maize market volume expanded from 288.6 million t in 2018 to 343.6 million t in 2023. Import levels fluctuated significantly, peaking at 55.3 million t in 2021 due to ample global supply and competitive international prices. Subsequently, imports declined as increased domestic production and substantial state reserve purchases—often exceeding 10 million t annually—reduced the reliance on foreign grain and helped stabilize the domestic market.

By 2024, continued enforcement of the 'food security party-government joint responsibility' policy and the large-scale yield improvement action supported record production. Simultaneously, regulatory measures such as import restrictions on corn in bonded zones and increased state reserve purchases of over 10 million t by mid-year further insulated the domestic market from international price volatility, maintaining prices within a reasonable range.

Production maize in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, M t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

In 2018, Eastern Asia's maize production reached its lowest point at 259.1 million tonnes, declining by 0.8% from the previous year. Production then rebounded significantly in 2019, hitting a peak of 263.4 million tonnes with a 1.7% increase. In 2020, output remained stable at 263.0 million tonnes, showing only minor fluctuations compared to 2019.

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

Exports maize from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Maize exports from Eastern Asia reached their highest level in 2017, then fell sharply to a low of 3,000 tonnes in 2020, representing a dramatic 90.2% drop from 2019. The difference between the peak in 2017 and the trough in 2020 was 36-fold. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with exports surging by 135.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the export partner landscape for maize in Eastern Asia was highly diversified. Asia, not elsewhere specified (26.0% of exports in kind), Canada (5.9%), and the Netherlands (3.9%) together accounted for just 35.9% of total flows. The remaining 64.1% was distributed among numerous other countries, reflecting a broad market reach.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. The value of maize exports from Eastern Asia peaked in 2017 and bottomed out in 2020 at 4 million US dollars, showing a 6.3-fold difference between these years. This represented a 55.5% decline from 2019. The largest decrease was recorded in 2018 at 77.4%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2019 with a 58.9% rise.

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

Analysis of maize export values from 2017 to 2020 shows a broad distribution across multiple markets. Vietnam (20.8% of exports in value terms), Asia, not elsewhere specified (19.0%), and Canada (5.4%) together represented only 45.1% of total flows. The remaining 54.9% was spread across various other trading partners, indicating significant market diversification.

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

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

Imports maize to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Eastern Asia's maize import volume increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 38,704,000 tonnes. This marked a 20.3% rise compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 40.9%, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 12.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (54.9% of imports in kind), Brazil (16.5%), and Ukraine (14.3%) were the dominant suppliers of maize to Eastern Asia. Together, these three countries accounted for 85.7% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Eastern Asia's maize imports increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, amounting to 8,152 million US dollars. This represented a substantial 17.4% gain compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import values rose by 48.8%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 14.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (55.3% of imports in value terms), Brazil (15.7%), and Ukraine (14.5%) continued to lead as the main suppliers of maize to Eastern Asia. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 85.5% of total import values.

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

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