Corn's Many Uses Around the World

As one of the nation’s top agriculture exporters, Illinois ships corn to buyers across the globe—but where is it all going? While corn has many uses domestically, it also has diverse uses around the world. Illinois has an extensive network of waterways, railways, and roads that make it a top location for corn to be exported internationally.

Where is Illinois corn going? (Market Year 2024/2025)

Total Exports

• ~1 billion bushels

1. Mexico
2. 8.64 million tons
3. 340.0 million bushels
4. $1.95 billion
5. Colombia
6. 4.34 million tons
7. 170.7 million bushels
8. $978 million
9. Japan
10. 2.59 million tons
11. 102.0 million bushels
12. $584 million
13. Spain
14. 1.29 million tons
15. 50.7 million bushels
16. $290 million
17. Guatemala
18. 1.01 million tons
19. 39.8 million bushels
20. $228 million

Top Uses for Corn

1. Mexico
2. Livestock feed (cattle, swine, and poultry)
3. Food processing (corn-based products like tortillas)
4. Colombia
5. Livestock feed (swine and poultry
6. Japan
7. Livestock feed (cattle, swine, and poultry)
8. Spain
9. Livestock feed (cattle, swine, poultry)
10. Food processing (corn-based products like tortillas)
11. Precooked maize flour (Latin American cuisine)
12. Guatemala
13. Food processing (consuming over 220 lbs per person annually)
14. Livestock feed (swine and poultry)

U.S. grown corn has integrated into the lives of many consumers across the world. These corn numbers only contribute on piece of the picture—other corn exports like corn-based ethanol, dried distiller grains (DDGS), and corn-fed livestock add even more to the total. Corn is used all around us in all parts of the world.