American corn conquers markets with price, but China remains on the sidelines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says U.S. corn exports continue to grow at a rapid pace, but China is not a major buyer. According to the USDA, corn demand has increased in 2025 due to low prices, which has attracted the attention of many countries. Brian Dougherty of Total Farm Marketing noted that U.S. corn is being exported to Mexico, Vietnam and other countries that are actively buying due to favorable price conditions.

Dougherty said that while Thursday’s export report showed weak results compared to other periods of the year, overall corn demand has been strong in 2025. He said exports increased by 581 million bushels compared to the same period last year, an increase of 26.9%. “It’s a really good response to low prices,” he stressed, emphasizing the global reaction of buyers to the availability of corn.

The expert also commented on potential risks to the market. Asked whether stockpiling by buyers now could create post-harvest problems, Dougherty said that was always a potential threat. “When prices are low, buyers often buy ahead because of the uncertainty surrounding the growing season,” he explained. Such a strategy could affect demand in the future, especially after the harvest season is over.

One of the key challenges for U.S. corn is competing with Brazil, which is expected to have a record Safrinha crop. Dougherty noted that Brazil’s large production volume is likely to continue to put downward pressure on prices. This could make it difficult to maintain high prices for U.S. corn on the world market, despite current demand.

Amid these trends, U.S. farmers and traders are closely monitoring global market conditions. While low prices are encouraging exports, competition from other producing countries and potential stockpiling by buyers could impact the market outlook after the season ends. USDA and analysts continue to monitor the situation to assess how these factors will impact corn trade in the 2025/26 MY.

Tags: China, corn, export, Brazil, prices, USA