Market research

Maize market in South Korea

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

Earlier Report Observations

The maize market in South Korea expanded from 10.2 million tonnes in 2018 to 11.8 million tonnes in 2020, driven primarily by rising imports. The country's structural reliance on foreign supply for feed, oil, and sweeteners kept domestic production minimal, accounting for less than 1% of total market volume.

After 2020, market size stabilized around 11.7–11.9 million tonnes before declining to 11.4 million tonnes in 2023. Increased supply of U.S. maize and improved price competitiveness strengthened its market share in Asia during this period, while consumer spending grew more cautious, concentrating on essential purchases. Imports remained elevated at 11.3 million tonnes in 2024, supported by lower global grain prices and crop shortfalls in key exporting nations.

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 South Korea
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in South Korea 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, 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, 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 South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea 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 South Korea in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to South Korea 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 South Korea in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to South Korea 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea 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 South Korea in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea 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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 South Korea in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from South Korea 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 South Korea in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from South Korea 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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from South Korea by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 South Korea

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

South Korea produced 91,766 tons of maize in 2020, representing a robust 20.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 26.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.1%. The only decline during this period occurred in 2019, when production fell by 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in South Korea in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.5%	(2.1%)	20.2%	8.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize from South Korea

Exports in kind, K t

Maize exports from South Korea declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 0.0 thousand tons, showing a sharp 92.7% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 100%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 94.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(99.7%)	(15.1%)	(92.7%)	(94.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Asia (not elsewhere specified) effectively monopolized South Korea's maize exports in volume terms, accounting for 99.3% of total shipments.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Maize exports from South Korea declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export value was recorded at 0.1 million US dollars, marking a 14.0% year-over-year decrease. Between 2017 and 2020, export value fell by 99.2%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 80.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(98.7%)	(29.1%)	(14.0%)	(80.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, virtually all maize export value from South Korea was associated with Asia (not elsewhere specified), which accounted for 96.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize to South Korea

Imports in kind, K t

South Korea's maize imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 11,664 thousand tons of maize, representing a modest 2.6% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 25.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.1%	11.8%	2.6%	7.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (39.9% of import volume), Argentina (18.8%), and Brazil (18.3%) were the main sources for South Korea's maize imports in volume terms, together accounting for 77.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

South Korea's maize imports increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import value reached 2,371 million US dollars, indicating a slight 0.8% rise compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import value grew by 32.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 9.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.2%	10.3%	0.8%	9.8%

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, the United States (40.4% of import value), Argentina (18.2%), and Brazil (17.6%) continued to be the main suppliers of maize to South Korea, jointly forming 76.1% 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 South Korea in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io