China’s Dominance in Global Corn Production and Trade Trends

Table of contents

Abstract
Corn imports (worldwide)
Corn imports (latest year, countries around the world)
Corn imports (continent)
Corn imports (latest year, continental)
Main data
Reference

Abstract

In 2021, China led global corn production with 33.1 million tons (Mt), reflecting its dominant role in the agricultural sector. Over the years, global corn production has been characterized by a shift towards higher-yielding regions such as the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, while China’s growth has been driven by expanding domestic demand and technological advancements. Historically, corn exports were concentrated in the U.S. and South America, but China’s growing import needs, especially in 2020-2021, marked a significant trend in global trade dynamics, influencing global prices and trade patterns.

Corn imports (worldwide)

From 1961 to 2021, global corn trade has evolved with significant shifts in production and import trends. China’s record import of 33.1Mt in 2021 represents its peak, driven by increasing domestic demand for animal feed and industrial use. Historically, the U.S. has been the leading exporter, while South American countries like Brazil and Argentina have gained market share. China’s rising imports reflect its growing agricultural needs, marking a shift from self-sufficiency to reliance on global trade. This shift has impacted global prices and trade patterns, with China now fully meeting its peak import levels.

The maximum is 1.46G[2021] of China, and the current value is about 97.8%

Corn imports (latest year, countries around the world)

In 2021, global corn trade reached a total of 229 million tons, with China leading imports at 33.1 million tons, the highest recorded. This marks a significant shift in global trade dynamics, as China’s import volume now accounts for a large portion of global demand, driven by increased domestic consumption for livestock feed and industrial use. The average import volume was 1.24 million tons, reflecting a concentration of trade among a few key players. Historically, the U.S. has been the dominant exporter, but South American countries like Brazil and Argentina have become increasingly influential in global corn markets.

The maximum is 1.43G of China, the average is 46.4M, and the total is 7.79G

Corn imports (continent)

Since 1961, global corn trade has seen significant growth, with Asia emerging as the largest importer, reaching a peak of 112 million tons. This reflects the region’s growing demand for corn, particularly in China and other countries like Japan and South Korea, driven by increased consumption in livestock feed and food processing. Over the decades, corn imports have expanded as Asian economies modernized and industrialized. The trend highlights a shift from regional self-sufficiency to reliance on international markets, with the U.S. and South America becoming key suppliers to Asia’s growing import needs.

The maximum is the latest one, 4.72G of Asia

Corn imports (latest year, continental)

In 2021, global corn imports totaled 202 million tons, with Asia accounting for the largest share at 112 million tons, a peak in the data. The average import across regions was 33.6 million tons, highlighting Asia’s dominance in the global corn market. Driven by rising demand for animal feed and industrial use, particularly in China, Asia’s imports have steadily increased over the years. The U.S. remains the primary exporter, but South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, have also grown in importance, shaping global corn trade dynamics. This trend reflects Asia’s increasing reliance on international corn supplies.

The maximum is 4.72G of Asia, the average is 1.47G, and the total is 7.37G

Main data

Others(Corn, Population) [G]
	World	Asia	Lower-middle-income countries	Upper-middle-income countries	Africa	China	India	High-income countries	Europe	Low-income countries
2022	7.98	4.72	3.45	2.56	1.43	1.43	1.42	1.22	0.74	0.72
2021	7.91	4.68	3.41	2.55	1.37	1.46	1.41	1.22	0.74	0.7
2020	7.84	4.65	3.37	2.54	1.34	1.46	1.4	1.22	0.74	0.68
2019	7.76	4.61	3.33	2.53	1.3	1.45	1.38	1.21	0.74	0.66
2018	7.68	4.57	3.28	2.52	1.26	1.45	1.37	1.21	0.74	0.64
2017	7.6	4.53	3.24	2.5	1.23	1.44	1.35	1.2	0.74	0.63
2016	7.51	4.48	3.19	2.48	1.2	1.43	1.34	1.2	0.74	0.61
2015	7.43	4.44	3.14	2.46	1.17	1.43	1.32	1.19	0.74	0.59
2014	7.34	4.39	3.1	2.44	1.14	1.42	1.31	1.18	0.74	0.58
2013	7.25	4.35	3.05	2.42	1.11	1.41	1.29	1.18	0.74	0.56
2012	7.16	4.3	3.01	2.4	1.08	1.4	1.27	1.17	0.74	0.55
2011	7.07	4.25	2.96	2.38	1.02	1.39	1.26	1.16	0.73	0.54
2010	6.99	4.2	2.91	2.36	0.99	1.38	1.24	1.15	0.73	0.52
2009	6.9	4.09	2.87	2.35	0.91	1.38	1.22	1.15	0.74	0.51
2008	6.81	4.04	2.82	2.33	0.89	1.37	1.21	1.14	0.74	0.49
2007	6.73	4	2.78	2.31	0.87	1.36	1.19	1.13	0.74	0.48
2006	6.64	3.96	2.74	2.29	0.85	1.36	1.17	1.12	0.73	0.46
2005	6.56	3.91	2.69	2.28	0.83	1.35	1.15	1.11	0.73	0.45
2004	6.48	3.87	2.65	2.26	0.81	1.34	1.14	1.1	0.73	0.44
2003	6.39	3.83	2.6	2.24	0.79	1.33	1.12	1.09	0.73	0.43
2002	6.31	3.78	2.56	2.23	0.77	1.32	1.1	1.09	0.73	0.41
2001	6.23	3.74	2.51	2.21	0.75	1.32	1.08	1.08	0.73	0.4
2000	6.15	3.69	2.47	2.19	0.74	1.31	1.06	1.07	0.73	0.39
1999	6.07	3.65	2.42	2.17	0.72	1.3	1.04	1.07	0.73	0.38
1998	5.99	3.6	2.38	2.16	0.7	1.29	1.02	1.06	0.73	0.37
1997	5.91	3.56	2.33	2.14	0.68	1.29	1	1.05	0.73	0.36
1996	5.83	3.51	2.29	2.12	0.67	1.28	0.98	1.05	0.73	0.35
1995	5.74	3.46	2.24	2.1	0.65	1.27	0.96	1.04	0.73	0.34
1994	5.66	3.41	2.2	2.08	0.64	1.25	0.95	1.03	0.73	0.33
1993	5.58	3.36	2.15	2.05	0.62	1.24	0.93	1.02	0.73	0.32
1992	5.49	3.31	2.11	2.03	0.61	1.23	0.91	1.02	0.73	0.31
1991	5.41	3.18	2.07	2.01	0.6	1.21	0.89	1.01	0.79	0.3
1990	5.32	3.13	2.02	1.98	0.58	1.19	0.87	1	0.79	0.3
1989	5.22	3.07	1.98	1.95	0.57	1.17	0.85	0.99	0.79	0.29
1988	5.13	3.01	1.93	1.92	0.55	1.15	0.83	0.99	0.78	0.28
1987	5.04	2.95	1.89	1.88	0.54	1.13	0.82	0.98	0.78	0.27
1986	4.95	2.89	1.84	1.85	0.52	1.11	0.8	0.97	0.77	0.27
1985	4.86	2.83	1.8	1.82	0.51	1.09	0.78	0.96	0.77	0.26
1984	4.78	2.77	1.76	1.79	0.49	1.07	0.76	0.96	0.77	0.25
1983	4.69	2.72	1.72	1.76	0.48	1.05	0.75	0.95	0.76	0.25
1982	4.61	2.67	1.67	1.73	0.47	1.04	0.73	0.94	0.76	0.24
1981	4.52	2.61	1.63	1.71	0.45	1.02	0.71	0.94	0.75	0.23
1980	4.44	2.56	1.59	1.68	0.44	1.01	0.7	0.93	0.75	0.23
1979	4.37	2.51	1.55	1.65	0.43	0.99	0.68	0.92	0.75	0.23
1978	4.29	2.47	1.51	1.63	0.42	0.98	0.67	0.91	0.74	0.22
1977	4.22	2.42	1.48	1.6	0.41	0.97	0.65	0.9	0.74	0.21
1976	4.14	2.37	1.44	1.58	0.4	0.95	0.64	0.9	0.73	0.21
1975	4.07	2.32	1.41	1.55	0.39	0.93	0.62	0.89	0.73	0.2
1974	4	2.27	1.38	1.52	0.38	0.92	0.61	0.88	0.72	0.2
1973	3.92	2.22	1.35	1.49	0.37	0.9	0.6	0.87	0.72	0.19
1972	3.84	2.17	1.32	1.46	0.36	0.88	0.58	0.87	0.71	0.19
1971	3.77	2.12	1.29	1.43	0.35	0.85	0.57	0.86	0.71	0.18
1970	3.7	2.07	1.26	1.4	0.34	0.83	0.56	0.85	0.7	0.18
1969	3.62	2.02	1.23	1.37	0.33	0.81	0.55	0.84	0.7	0.17
1968	3.55	1.97	1.2	1.34	0.32	0.79	0.53	0.83	0.69	0.17
1967	3.48	1.92	1.17	1.31	0.31	0.77	0.52	0.82	0.69	0.16
1966	3.41	1.88	1.14	1.28	0.31	0.75	0.51	0.81	0.68	0.16
1965	3.34	1.83	1.12	1.25	0.3	0.73	0.5	0.8	0.68	0.16
1964	3.27	1.79	1.09	1.22	0.29	0.71	0.49	0.79	0.67	0.15
1963	3.2	1.75	1.07	1.18	0.28	0.7	0.48	0.78	0.66	0.15
1962	3.13	1.72	1.04	1.15	0.28	0.69	0.47	0.78	0.65	0.15
1961	3.07	1.69	1.02	1.13	0.27	0.68	0.46	0.77	0.65	0.14