Despite the decrease in the area under grain corn, its yield is currently growing rapidly.
According to Rosstat, in 2023, the area under corn was at the level of 184 thousand hectares. This is 6.4% lower than in 2022, and it is assumed that this negative trend will also continue in the current season.
At the same time, the yield of grain corn, on the contrary, is growing.
In 2023, it was about 69 centners per hectare, which is 15.6% higher than in the previous season. This became a kind of record, and the upward trend has been observed here for many years.
Nevertheless, as analysts note, in 2024, a decrease in the corn harvest is expected in the Russian Federation compared to 2023. It may amount to about 7%.
In which regions of the Russian Federation is corn grown?
Corn is the second most widely grown crop in the world, and its area of cultivation places it in first place among grains.
At the same time, in Russia, a significant part of corn production is concentrated in a small number of regions.
These are Krasnodar Krai, Kursk, Voronezh, Tambov and Bryansk regions, Kabardino-Balkaria, Belgorod Oblast, Stavropol Krai, Saratov Oblast and North Ossetia-Alania.
At the same time, these 10 regions account for 70% of all corn production in Russia, and the first 5 regions account for 45%.
Corn import and export
Recently, the problem of importing corn seeds has become more acute. In 2023, the volume of such supplies to the Russian Federation fell by half due to sanctions, amounting to just over 17 thousand tons.
In 2024, seed imports decreased even more, as Russia set quotas for importing seeds from unfriendly countries.
As a result, in the first 3 months of 2024, the volume of seed imports amounted to only 2 thousand tons, although for the same period of the previous year it was more than 15 thousand tons.
There is practically no import of finished corn to Russia, excluding only corn on the cob and popcorn corn.
As for corn exports from Russia, they are at a solid level and are actively growing. For example, in 2023, there is an increase of 41% compared to the previous year.
At the same time, corn consumption is growing in Russia. First of all, this crop is used for animal feed.
In 2023, the consumption of feed corn exceeded 9 million tons. This is a quarter more than 5 years ago, and 50% more than 10 years ago.
Also in Russia, corn is used for the production of starch, alcohol, flour. Currently, the Russian Federation is 150% self-sufficient in corn, which opens up wide opportunities for export.
