India was a net importer of maize in 2024-25 despite record output
India imported a record 9.7 lakh tonnes of maize in 2024–25, a six-fold rise from the previous year, driven by strong demand from feed, starch, and ethanol sectors. Meanwhile, maize exports plummeted 61% to 5.56 lakh tonnes. This import surge occurred despite record domestic production of 422.81 lakh tonnes, nearly double the 2015–16 output.
India’s maize imports touched a record 9.7 lakh tonnes during financial year 2024-25, a six-fold increase over 1.37 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. The country became a net importer of maize during the year on rising demand for the cereal from key consuming sectors such as livestock feed, starch and ethanol, even as the exports have slowed down considerably.
Exports of maize during the year dropped 61 per cent to 5.56 lakh tonnes from14.42 lakh tonnes the previous fiscal. Maize exports have seen a drastic decline from over a record 34.53 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. In value terms, maize exports declined sharply from $1.11 billion in 2022-23 to a mere $201 million in 2024-25.
The surge in India’s maize imports last fiscal is despite the rising domestic production, which touched a record 422.81 lakh tonnes, as per the third advance estimates. Maize production has nearly doubled over the last 10 years from around 225.67 lakh tonnes during 2015-16.
To Read more about Maize News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : The Hindu Business line
