Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Corn production in Mexico and South Africa are expected to increase in 2025/26, according to the United States Department of Agriculture attachés in Mexico City and Pretoria.
Mexico facing challenges
The Mexico City desk based their estimates on growing demand for corn, despite Mexico facing a 0.6 per cent drop in its gross domestic product and international policy challenges. The report also noted any large increase in planted area is limited by high farmer debt, constrained finance mechanisms and rising insecurity including robberies of trains transporting grain.
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The country’s corn output is forecast to come in at 24.50 million tonnes, up 800,000 from 2024/25. That’s based on a 100,000-hectare increase in harvested area at 6.40 million and yields improving 1.8 per cent at 3.83 tonnes per hectare.
The attaché reduced Mexico’s 2025/26 corn imports by 700,000 tonnes at 24.80 million. Total consumption edged up to 49.80 million tonnes, which brought ending stocks to 4.09 million tonnes, down 520,000 from 2024/25.
Oilseeds impede more South African corn area
As for South Africa, among the world’s top 10 corn producers, output in 2025/26 is expected to bump up 340,000 tonnes at 16 million, largely due to a 74 per cent increase in beginning stocks of 1.43 million tonnes.
The attaché noted corn acres are unlikely to expand due to no changes in the country’s oilseed area, making no additional land available for corn.
The Pretoria desk raised corn exports to 1.85 million tonnes from 1.50 million in 2024/25. Total consumption is to inch up to 14.10 million tonnes and ending stocks are to be relatively firm at 1.48 million tonnes.
