India’s corn exports seen rising on competitive prices, stronger output and regional demand
India is expected to lift corn exports to 6.5 lakh tonnes in the current marketing year, supported by lower offers versus competitors, robust regional buying interest, and a larger domestic crop outlook.
India is likely to increase corn (maize) exports to 6.5 lakh tonnes in the current marketing year through September 2026, according to The Hindu BusinessLine report published on March 19, 2026. The article links the improved export outlook to a combination of competitive Indian pricing, firm regional demand, and a stronger production base.
USDA’s Grains: World Markets and Trade report, as cited in the story, raised India’s export projection from 3.5 lakh tonnes. The same source says India exported about 400,000 tonnes in October-December 2025, roughly double the volume shipped in the same quarter over the previous two years. That early-season pace is one of the main reasons trade expectations have been revised upward.
Price competitiveness appears to be central. The article cites market offers showing Indian corn to Bangladesh at about $220-230 per tonne, versus around $260 per tonne for Brazilian supplies. With that spread, importers seeking lower-cost feed grain have a clear incentive to buy from India, especially as buyers in South and Southeast Asia adjust procurement to higher freight and input-risk conditions.
Supply-side numbers also support the export case. USDA is quoted forecasting India’s corn harvest at a record 43 million tonnes, up 1 million tonnes from 2024-25 and 5.3 million tonnes from 2023-24. India’s second advance estimates are also presented as record-high at 30.25 million tonnes in kharif and 15.9 million tonnes in rabi, with up to another 3.5 million tonnes possible in the summer Zaid season.
The domestic market remains mixed at the regional level. Trade participants cited in the report say Bihar crop delays have contributed to price firmness, while exporters are waiting for Bihar arrivals because the state typically produces around 2.2-2.5 million tonnes. At the same time, good harvests in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, plus carryover stocks, are described as keeping overall availability comfortable for shipment programs.
The ethanol feedstock shift is another key element in the article. USDA is cited saying that during India’s push toward the E20 deadline, grain-based ethanol use expanded and corn accounted for roughly 46% of new grain ethanol feedstocks in 2024-25. But after rice supplies rebounded in 2025-26 and restrictions on rice use for ethanol were removed, part of feedstock demand moved away from corn. Even with that shift, the report concludes that India is positioned to play a larger role in South and Southeast Asian corn trade this year.