India’s growing demand for maize, primarily driven by ethanol blending targets, the expanding poultry sector, and increasing industrial applications, has led the nation to become a net importer of the grain. Maize imports rose substantially from 5,000 tonnes in 2023 to nearly 1 million tonnes in 2024, with India’s annual requirement estimated at between 6 and 7 million tonnes.
Ministry of Commerce data indicates that India imported approximately 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes of maize from Myanmar in 2024, with an additional 130,000 tonnes imported by August 2025; these imports were all duty-free. The article highlights a trade disparity, noting that while maize from countries such as Ukraine and Myanmar enters India duty-free, the United States imposes a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports, influencing India’s maize procurement decisions.
Source: www.news18.com