India's corn exports are experiencing a significant resurgence, with exports reaching 1.08 million metric tons in the first five months of 2026, representing a dramatic increase from 228,844 tons in the same period last year. According to provisional data from the trade ministry, this performance is already approaching the 1.8 million tons projected for the full year, which would mark the highest export volume since 2023 and more than double last year's 805,935 tons. As reported by Reuters, the surge is attributed to record production levels and competitive pricing that has made Indian corn more attractive to Asian buyers.
The export boom comes as US farmers planted 3% fewer corn acres in 2026 compared to the previous year, according to the latest USDA data. Despite this decline, corn acreage remains the fourth-largest in 82 years, though concerns about soaring fertilizer costs have impacted planting decisions. This reduction in US production capacity has created additional opportunities for Indian exporters to capture market share in Asian markets. The USDA data indicates that while US corn production may face challenges, it continues to maintain substantial acreage, making the competitive pricing advantage for Indian corn even more significant for Asian buyers.
The export boom is primarily driven by record corn production of 55 million tons in the 2025/26 crop year, representing a 27% increase from the previous year. According to Nitin Gupta, deputy country head at Olam Agri India, Indian prices remained competitive while landed corn costs from the US and South America were higher for Asian buyers due to rising freight costs following the outbreak of the US-Iran war. Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have increased their purchases from India, with Vietnamese buyers particularly active in the market. "In the past few months, export demand stayed pretty strong," Gupta told Reuters.
Corn prices had previously declined due to excessive supplies but are now recovering as exports help reduce the surplus. As reported by Hemant Jain, an exporter in Indore, the price rise has already started to moderate exports, with only India's neighbors such as Bangladesh and Nepal now placing new orders while other Asian buyers are turning to US corn. A Mumbai-based dealer noted that Indian exports are expected to regain momentum from October with the arrival of the new season crop, provided production remains strong, though concerns persist over rainfall due to El Nino conditions. Lower prices and below-average rainfall could prompt farmers to shift from corn to other crops, according to industry sources.
