Export Sales and Global Demand

Lyndi Allen
April 17, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced private export sales of U.S. corn for delivery during the 2024/2025 marketing year in metric tons (MT). The most recent include:



Total corn exports for MY2024/2025 stand at 38.4 million metric tons (MMT) and outstanding export sales currently total 18.2MMT. As of April 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects total U.S. corn exports for the 2024/2025 marketing year at 2.55 billion bushels, which would be the second largest on record. Although international markets continue to shift, farmers are in a market heavily influenced by price and global competition.


According to farmdoc daily, the U.S. Farm Safety Net has shifted away from countercyclical policies that once offered protection against lower market prices. With these programs no longer in place, farmers are growing increasingly dependent on strong export markets to maintain profitability—making sales to customers like Spain, Japan, and Portugal even more important.


While the global demand increases, Brazil, a major competitor in the world corn market, is now consuming a larger portion of its own corn due to an increase in need for domestic ethanol production. As reported by farmdoc daily, Brazil’s internal demand for corn for ethanol has skyrocketed, increasing local corn prices and driving more local production. In the near term this may alleviate some export competition from Brazil, but in the long run it could help expand production further, increase global competitiveness, and put more pressure on U.S. corn exports.


As discussions around potential new tariffs continue, Illinois corn farmers could be directly impacted. Higher tariffs may reduce the international demand for U.S. corn. According to Farm Policy News, the Trump administration is considering a new tariff relief package for farmers, but no formal program has been announced. Until then, any cost from reciprocal trade tariffs may fall directly on farmers, who are already managing tight margins.


Midway through the 2024/2025 marketing year, export sales and shifting global markets may have an outsized influence on opportunities and profitability for Illinois corn farmers.

The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
By Tara Desmond July 3, 2025
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
A map of the world with arrows pointing to trade countries
By Lyndi Allen July 3, 2025
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Top Videos of 2025
By Tara Desmond July 2, 2025
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
By Lindsay Croke June 30, 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
The sun is setting behind the capitol building in washington d.c.
By Lyndi Allen June 27, 2025
From Springfield to D.C., lawmakers are listening, and Illinois corn farmers are leading the conversations.
Show More