Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 9, Russia has become China’s largest supplier of corn, surpassing Brazil, Myanmar, and the United States. According to the Russian Federal Center “Agroexport,” from January to August 2025, Russia exported more than 287,000 tons of corn to China, triple the volume of the same period last year when exports totaled 96,000 tons. In value terms, exports increased 3.1 times, reaching $70 million compared with $22 million in 2024.

During the first eight months of 2025, China imported a total of 785,300 tons of corn, over 10 million tons less than the same period a year earlier. This figure represents one of the lowest import volumes in the past five years, as the average for this period was around 11.1 million tons. The sharp decline in imports has been attributed to strong domestic production, existing stockpiles, and moderate consumption amid slower economic growth.

Meanwhile, Brazil, which had previously held the top position as China’s main corn supplier, saw a significant decline in exports. In June 2025, China did not import any corn from Brazil, and during the first half of the year, Brazilian corn shipments amounted to only 245,000 tons, compared with 5.76 million tons during the same period in 2024. Ukraine also experienced a decline in exports, with shipments decreasing from 106,500 tons in May to 65,700 tons in June, bringing the total volume since the beginning of the year to 231,000 tons.

Russia capitalized on the reduced activity of other suppliers. In June 2025, China’s imports of Russian corn rose to 81,900 tons, bringing the cumulative total for the year to 201,400 tons—more than double last year’s level. In contrast, imports from the United States nearly came to a halt, totaling only 20,000 tons in 2025 compared with 1.38 million tons a year earlier. This decline reflected tightening political and trade relations between the two countries.

Before the start of recent geopolitical tensions, Ukraine had been China’s primary corn supplier, owing to its production of non-GMO corn, which aligned with China’s import preferences at the time. However, shifts in trade flows, competitive pricing, and logistical adjustments have allowed Russia to expand its role in the Chinese market.

Overall, the data indicates a significant realignment in China’s corn import structure in 2025. While total imports declined due to sufficient domestic supply and moderated demand, Russia emerged as the leading supplier, strengthening its position in agricultural trade with China.