This year, India has increased its corn exports almost 5 times

According to Reuters, in 2026, India will increase corn exports to a 3-year high due to lower logistics costs to Asian buyers than competitors and lower prices under the pressure of record production.

 

The war in the Middle East has sharply increased global freight rates, leading to increased export demand for Indian corn, especially from Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, which have found it unprofitable to buy corn from the United States and South America.

 

According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, in the first 5 months of 2026, corn exports increased compared to the corresponding period of the previous year from 228,844 thousand tons to 1.08 million tons, and by the end of the year they may reach a 3-year maximum of 1.8 million tons (805,935 thousand tons in 2025).

 

In the 2025/26 MY, the country increased corn production by 27% compared to the previous season to a record 55 million tons, as farmers were encouraged by higher grain prices in 2024, driven by high demand from the ethanol industry.

 

Amid strong production, corn prices have recently started to decline, but a recovery in exports has supported them. However, only neighboring countries are currently actively buying Indian corn, while others are resuming imports from the United States.

 

Experts expect corn exports from India to pick up in October, when the new crop begins to be harvested. However, if the El Niño climate phenomenon negatively affects rainfall in the country, the corn harvest will decrease as farmers will prefer to grow other crops.