Market research

Maize market in MERCOSUR

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

"MERCOSUR" region includes following countries:

Brazil

Argentina

Uruguay

Paraguay

Earlier Report Observations

The maize market in MERCOSUR started at 85.8 million tons in 2018, a year when droughts in key producing nations like the U.S., Brazil, and Argentina reduced global supply. Market volume stabilized at 84.5 million tons in 2019 before climbing to 97.2 million tons in 2020 as regional output expanded.

In 2021, a potential global deficit pushed corn prices up sharply, which encouraged higher imports and lower exports, supporting domestic market volume at 99.1 million tons. During 2022, international prices peaked amid climatic and geopolitical disruptions, trade contracted, and the market retreated to 94.1 million tons. By 2023, the introduction of advanced cultivation techniques and microbial products helped raise yields, allowing the market to recover to 97.3 million tons despite strong export activity.

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 MERCOSUR
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in MERCOSUR in kind, 2018-2023, M t
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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil 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 MERCOSUR

In kind, 2017-2020, M t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

MERCOSUR's maize production has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 169.0 million tonnes of maize, representing a 2.8% year-on-year growth. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 10.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 131.5 million tonnes, which saw the largest decline of 14.1%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 25.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(14.1%)	25.0%	2.8%	3.4%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

MERCOSUR's maize production value has also increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 28 396 million US dollars, showing a modest advance of 2.5% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 15.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.8%. The minimum value occurred in 2018 at 23 739 million US dollars, marking the largest decline of 3.7%. The largest increase was in 2019, with a 16.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in MERCOSUR in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.7%)	16.7%	2.5%	4.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize from MERCOSUR

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their minimum in 2018 at 46 805 thousand tonnes and peaked in 2019 at 81 006 thousand tonnes, showing a 1.7-fold difference. In 2020, foreign maize supplies from MERCOSUR amounted to 72 734 thousand tonnes, reflecting a significant decline of 10.2% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 13.9%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 73.1% surge.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.9%)	73.1%	(10.2%)	10.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, maize exports from MERCOSUR were not heavily concentrated. Vietnam accounted for 14.6% of exports in kind, Egypt for 9.3%, and Iran for 8.1%, with these three countries together capturing only 32.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, maize export volumes from MERCOSUR were valued at 12 222 million US dollars, marking a significant decline of 10.4% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 39.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 11.7%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 8 450 million US dollars, while the maximum was in 2019 at 13 646 million US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 61.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.5%)	61.5%	(10.4%)	11.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of maize exports in value terms remained highly diversified. Vietnam represented 14.2% of exports in value, Egypt 9.2%, and Iran 8.3%, with these three countries together accounting for only 31.8% of total flows. A long tail of smaller markets formed the remaining 68.2%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize to MERCOSUR

Imports in kind, K t

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Import volumes hit a trough in 2017 and peaked in 2018, showing a 5.5-fold amplitude. In 2020, MERCOSUR imported approximately 964 thousand tonnes of maize, which is 11.5% less compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 1 127 thousand tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 454.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	454.5%	(3.4%)	(11.5%)	68.0%

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Maize import volumes in MERCOSUR declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 337 million US dollars, which is 1.3% less compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 6.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.3%)	(4.7%)	(1.3%)	(2.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Chile stood out as the main suppliers of maize to MERCOSUR, together forming 7.0% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io