Maize market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The maize market volume in Eastern Europe declined from 50,365 K t in 2018 to 33,493 K t in 2020. This downward trend occurred despite a 25.1% increase in the harvest in 2019 and an expansion of sown area by 10.8% in 2020, alongside the rising adoption of hybrid varieties which reached 88% of sown area.

Market volume rebounded sharply to 53,941 K t in 2021, driven by growing consumption for animal feed and increased production. However, a 3.4% reduction in sown area in 2022 contributed to a harvest decline, pulling the market size down to 30,112 K t. In 2023, the market recovered to 39,030 K t as a 15.6% rise in yield compensated for a 6.4% decrease in sown area, leading to a 5.3% growth in the total harvest.

In 2024, the market continues to be shaped by the growing share of domestic seed breeding and ongoing sanctions affecting seed imports, against a backdrop of high input costs such as fertilizers and energy.

Production maize in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Following two years of growth, maize production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) experienced a decline. In 2019, production reached its peak at 88 839 thousand tons, but then fell to 76 669 thousand tons in 2020, marking a 13.7% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 10.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 24.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Maize production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the value of maize output was 14 634 million US dollars, representing a moderate 9.1% drop compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, the value of production grew by 18.9%, averaging 5.9% per year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 16 240 million US dollars, with the largest year-on-year increase of 31.9% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports maize from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

After rising for two consecutive years, maize exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) decreased. In 2020, exports totaled 45 053 thousand tons, a moderate 9.6% decline from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 28.8%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 8.8%. The peak was in 2019 at 49 853 thousand tons, with the largest year-on-year increase of 36.2% also recorded that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the export market for maize in kind was highly diversified. The top three destinations—China (10.4% of exports in kind), the Netherlands (9.7%), and Spain (9.4%)—collectively accounted for only 29.5% of total exports. The remaining 70.5% was distributed among a wide range of other countries.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Following two years of growth, the value of maize exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined. In 2020, export value reached 8 599 million US dollars, down 4.8% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value increased by 39.1%, averaging 11.6% per year. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 9 031 million US dollars, with the largest year-on-year increase of 31.2% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, the largest buyers of maize from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value terms were China (9.7% of export value), the Netherlands (8.9%), and Spain (8.5%). However, these three countries together represented just 27.2% of total export value, indicating a broad and diverse market with many smaller partners.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports maize to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Maize imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) showed an unstable trend over the period. The lowest point was in 2018 at 638 thousand tons, while imports peaked in 2020 at 1 877 thousand tons—a 2.9-fold increase from the low. In 2020, imports rose by 70.8% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 53.4%, while the largest increase was in 2019, up by 72.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, maize imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind came from a wide array of countries. Even the top three sources—Serbia, France, and Argentina—together accounted for only 11.4% of total imports, highlighting the dispersed nature of the supply.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Maize imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value reached 1 171 million US dollars, reflecting a solid 15.7% rise from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value grew by 22.2%, averaging 6.9% per year. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 927 million US dollars, with the largest decline of 3.3% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The country composition of maize imports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was highly dispersed. The top three sources—France (20.5% of import value), Serbia (5.7%), and Austria (3.9%)—together represented just 30.2% of total imports. The remaining 69.8% was spread across a broad range of other destinations.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020