World corn supplies set for 12-year lows despite massive US crop

Published May 14, 2025

Tridge summary

U.S. farmers are expected to harvest a record corn crop in the 2025-26 cycle, but global corn ending stocks are predicted to hit a 12-year low due to robust demand. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates global corn ending stocks at 277.8 million metric tons, a 3% decrease from the year before and a 16% decrease from the 2023-24 season. The low stocks-to-use ratio of 18.9% indicates tight supplies, especially with China reducing global corn stocks instead of increasing them as usual. The success of the U.S. crop and the potential increase in corn acres planted could significantly impact the carryout numbers. The coming months will be critical for farmers as any summer weather issues could exacerbate supply concerns.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

U.S. farmers are poised to reap a record corn crop in the upcoming 2025-26 cycle. Additionally, combined output among key corn exporters in South America is also slated for an all-time high in 2025-26. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts global corn ending stocks to fall to 12-year lows in 2025-26 as demand continues its robust pace. This means that the strong U.S. crop expectations need to come to fruition to prevent a further slippage in supplies. USDA on Monday pegged 2025-26 global corn ending stocks at 277.8 million metric tons, considerably below the pre-report trade estimate of 297.4 million. That is down 3% on the year and down 16% from 2023-24, and it would represent the lightest global carryout since 2013-14. If demand is factored in, corn stocks-to-use of 18.9% in 2025-26 would be the lowest since 2012-13, further demonstrating that corn supplies are not exactly predicted to be plentiful. If China is excluded from global corn stocks, the 2025-26 target ...

Source: Hellenic Shipping News