MERCOSUR: Maize Market 2025

Maize Market Size in MERCOSUR

The MERCOSUR maize market reached $X in 2022, picking up by 2% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption recorded a pronounced contraction. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Maize Production in MERCOSUR

In value terms, maize production amounted to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production saw a deep reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 when the production volume increased by 58%. Over the period under review, production reached the maximum level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

Peru (X tons) constituted the country with the largest volume of maize production, accounting for 73% of total volume. Moreover, maize production in Peru exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Chile (X tons), threefold.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume in Peru totaled +1.7%.

The average maize yield totaled X tons per ha in 2022, flattening at the previous year. Over the period under review, the yield showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when the yield increased by 5.7%. As a result, the yield attained the peak level of X tons per ha. From 2018 to 2022, the growth of the maize yield remained at a lower figure. Despite the increased use of modern agricultural techniques and methods, future yield figures may still be impacted by adverse weather conditions.

In 2022, approx. X ha of maize (green) were harvested in MERCOSUR; waning by -3.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the harvested area saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when the harvested area increased by 13% against the previous year. The level of harvested area peaked at X ha in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, the harvested area stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Maize Exports

Exports in MERCOSUR

In 2022, after two years of decline, there was growth in overseas shipments of maize (green), when their volume increased by 4.8% to X tons. Over the period under review, exports recorded a remarkable increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 with an increase of 102%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, maize exports declined slightly to $X in 2022. Overall, exports saw strong growth. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when exports increased by 89%. The level of export peaked at $X in 2021, and then reduced slightly in the following year.

Exports by Country

Argentina was the key exporting country with an export of about X tons, which resulted at 52% of total exports. Peru (X tons) took the second position in the ranking, distantly followed by Colombia (X tons), Ecuador (X tons) and Brazil (X tons). All these countries together took near 48% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, average annual rates of growth with regard to maize exports from Argentina stood at +11.3%. At the same time, Ecuador (+20.3%), Peru (+12.2%) and Colombia (+10.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Ecuador emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in MERCOSUR, with a CAGR of +20.3% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Brazil (-4.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Argentina (+9.7 p.p.), Ecuador (+5.4 p.p.) and Peru (+5.2 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2022, the share of Brazil (-21.3 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Peru ($X), Colombia ($X) and Argentina ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2022, with a combined 83% share of total exports.

Peru, with a CAGR of +17.2%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in MERCOSUR amounted to $X per ton, dropping by -5.6% against the previous year. Export price indicated a mild expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, maize export price increased by +106.7% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 39%. Over the period under review, the export prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2021, and then shrank in the following year.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Colombia ($X per ton), while Argentina ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Brazil (+11.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Maize Imports

Imports in MERCOSUR

In 2022, overseas purchases of maize (green) were finally on the rise to reach X tons for the first time since 2019, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Overall, imports posted prominent growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when imports increased by 140%. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons. From 2020 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, maize imports dropped modestly to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports enjoyed a buoyant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when imports increased by 32%. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $X in 2021, and then declined in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Paraguay (X tons), distantly followed by Uruguay (X tons), Ecuador (X tons), Colombia (X tons) and Chile (X tons) represented the main importers of maize (green), together creating 94% of total imports. The following importers - Suriname (X tons) and Guyana (X tons) - each reached a 4.5% share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the leading importing countries, was attained by Paraguay (with a CAGR of +56.7%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Colombia ($X), Uruguay ($X) and Ecuador ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 53% share of total imports. Paraguay, Chile, Guyana and Suriname lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 15%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Paraguay, with a CAGR of +49.1%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in MERCOSUR amounted to $X per ton, waning by -14% against the previous year. Overall, the import price showed a abrupt slump. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 when the import price increased by 51%. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Colombia ($X per ton), while Paraguay ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Chile (+6.4%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the import price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform