Glacier FarmMedia MarketsFarm – China and Brazil are to further solidify their positions as the world’s number two and three corn producers, according to attaché reports from the United States Department of Agriculture.
China at 300 million tonnes
The Beijing desk projected China to hit 300 million tonnes of corn in 2025/26, largely on expectations of an improved yield of 6.71 tonnes per hectare as the Chinese government continued its programs pushing for higher output. In 2024/25 China’s corn yield was 6.59 mt/ha. that resulted in a harvest of 294.92 million tonnes. The attaché forecast virtually no change in area harvested at 44.74 million hectares.
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The attaché also upped their estimate on China’s corn imports by one million tonnes at eight million. However, that was based on China’s trade policies before it imposed retaliatory tariffs on its imports from the U.S.
Total consumption is to rise three million tonnes to 321 million 2025/26, ending stocks are to drop to 182.22 million tonnes from 195.52 million in 2024/25.
Brazil to top 130 million tonnes
In the forecast from the Brasilia desk, corn production in Brazil is expected to rise to 130 million tonnes in 2025/26, up four million from the year before. The attaché cited stronger corn prices and good growing conditions for the second corn crop for the increased output.
The attaché in that country bumped up corn yields to 5.78 mt/ha. from 5.73 in 2024/25 and expanded the harvested area by 500,000 hectares at 22.50 million.
They held corn exports at 44 million tonnes as the free trade deal with the European Union will avoid a decline. With increase domestic use, total consumption was raised two million at 89.50 million. That’s to drop ending stocks to 2.56 million tonnes from 4.46 million in 2025/26.
