Turkey becomes top importer of Ukrainian corn with quota policy driving record purchases in 2024/25 marketing year

The country imported around 3.2 million tonnes of corn between September 2024 and April 2025, significantly above the 1.6 million tonnes delivered during the same period of the previous year, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK).

A significant part of those imports – 2.6 million tonnes – came from Ukraine, the data showed.

Russia, the second-largest corn supplier to Turkey, provided 306,429 tonnes during this period, amid limited availability due a reduction in crops caused by dry conditions and the absence of an export quota from February 15 to June 30.

That compares with 545,454 tonnes provided during the same period in the 2023/24 marketing year.

The third-largest corn supplier to Turkey, Romania, increased volumes to 185,578 tonnes versus 12,183 tonnes provided in the previous year; despite the significant increase, the spread in market share further underscores Ukraine’s dominance in Turkey’s corn market.

This follows a drop in Turkey’s corn output by almost 12% in 2024/25 starting in September, with final production at 8.1 million, according to TÜİK.

The USDA Ankara office’s estimates are significantly lower, however, at 7.1 million tonnes produced in 2024/25 – which also represents a 12% drop versus the USDA’s estimates for the previous year – against consumption at 9.6 million tonnes.

Regardless of the data source, the decrease in production boosted imports, but with domestic prices holding firm, the Turkish government moved to regulate the market through measures like tariff rate quotas (TRQs).

Turkish authorities implemented TRQs three times in the current season – in October 2024, March 2025 and May 2025 – totaling 3 million tonnes with a reduced import duty of 5% and 0% instead of the usual 130% tariff rate.

The policy boosted the competitiveness of Ukrainian corn, which was already supported by its geographic proximity and non-GMO quality, with limited offers from Russia further strengthening its position. This has helped support local corn prices in recent months while most buyers – except Turkey – switched to cheaper origins.

According to Ukrainian customs data, 4.5 million tonnes out of the total 17.8 million tonnes of corn exported from September 1 to May 25 were shipped to Turkey, making the country the top importer of corn so far in the 2024/25.

Given that the data does not exactly match the volumes reported by TÜİK, some of the volumes reported as imported by Turkey by Ukrainian customs might have been re-exported to other countries that are Turkish trading partners, Fastmarkets understands.

Market participants noted occasional competition from Russian corn, which, despite lower volumes, was aggressively priced from July onward, when Russia lifted its export quotas.

Moreover, because of the current high prices for Ukrainian corn compared with other origins, the market was filled with unconfirmed reports that Ukraine’s corn volumes may face challenges if Turkish authorities revise GMO import policies to allow other origins to enter the Turkish market.

Potential imports from the US could also alter the competition. There were two trades of 30,000 tonnes of US corn reported sold to Turkey, but, according to sources, the policy regarding US corn import remains the same – GMO corn imports are still not allowed – and those volumes are in transit to other countries, most likely to Iraq.

Turkey imported roughly 3 million tonnes of corn in the 2023/2024 season, with Ukraine and Russia also being key suppliers.

Turkey expects to harvest a bigger corn crop in the 2025/26 marketing year. Local market estimations are above 7 million tonnes, around 7.5 million-7.6 million tonnes.

But the consumption estimated by local market sources stands around 9.5 million tonnes, which means there will be significant import demand.

The USDA’s Ankara office projects Turkey’s corn crop at 7.9 million tonnes, an 11% increase year on year and a consumption of 9.8 million tonnes.

As a result, the USDA expects corn imports to reach 2.5 million tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, but with planting still underway and harvest several months away, these estimates may change.

Tags: US, Production, imports, Market, ГМО, Ukraine, corn, Turkey, Romania