Corn/Maize
Corn (maize) is the world's most produced cereal grain, used for animal feed, ethanol production, and food ingredients. US Yellow Corn No.2 is the global benchmark. Brazil has emerged as a major second-crop (safrinha) exporter, competing with US and Argentine supplies.
Corn/Maize at a Glance
What Moves Corn/Maize Pricing
Corn prices off CBOT futures (the global price discovery contract). Brazilian safrinha (second-crop) corn has become the swing exporter. US ethanol mandate (RFS) consumes ~40% of US corn — ethanol margin signals (the corn-ethanol-DDGS spread) drive marginal demand. Chinese corn imports policy (TRQ allocations, sorghum-substitution shifts) reshape Pacific flows. Argentine corn exports are heavily affected by export tax (retenciones) policy.
How Corn/Maize Cargoes Are Priced and Settled
Cargoes 25,000-65,000 tonnes typical. Pricing is CBOT futures plus basis (US Gulf, FOB Paranaguá, FOB up-river Argentina). GAFTA or NGFA contracts. Quotational period typically contracted around B/L date.
Corn/Maize Specifications and Dispute Practice
Specs cover test weight, broken corn and foreign material (BCFM), moisture, damaged kernels, aflatoxin, and DON (vomitoxin). Yellow #2 US corn is the global benchmark grade. Mycotoxin disputes are most common — tropical destinations (SE Asia, MENA) frequently test higher than load-port samples and trigger price renegotiation.
Where Corn/Maize Comes From and Where It Goes
Top exporters: US, Brazil, Argentina, Ukraine (significantly disrupted since 2022), Russia. Top importers: China, Mexico, Japan, EU, Korea, Egypt, Vietnam, Taiwan. The US-Mexico flow is the world's largest single corn trade, supplemented by USMCA tariff treatment.
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