European Union corn imports surge amid record low production

European Union corn imports for the 2026/27 season have surged by 40% compared to the previous year, driven by a significant decline in domestic production. The European Commission estimates production at 48.3 million tonnes, the lowest level since 1994, due to severe drought conditions that have devastated harvests across the region, particularly in France.

To compensate for these losses, the EU has significantly increased its reliance on external suppliers. Imports from the United States have more than tripled, reaching 2.9 million tonnes, while shipments from Ukraine have also more than doubled to 1.62 million tonnes. In contrast, imports from Brazil have declined from 2.74 million tonnes to 1.82 million tonnes during the same period.

Market analysts note that while US production estimates have been revised upward, leading to price corrections there, the European market faces high prices and dwindling stocks. The production shortfall is expected to create a record need for imports, estimated to be 17.5% higher than the previous campaign.