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Corn Price Drivers in 2024: Is Ethanol Still #1?


Where Is Corn Grown, Why Is It Valuable & What Drives the Price of Corn?
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In this guide to understanding corn as a commodity, we’ll explain why it’s valuable, and describe how it’s produced and what it’s used for. We also list the countries that produce the most corn and explain what drives its price.

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Why is Corn Valuable?

Corn, also known as maize, is a cereal grain native to Central America. It is a source of food for humans and animals, as well as being a key ingredient in fuel production.

Ancient farmers in the region that is now Southern Mexico first domesticated corn about 10,000 years ago.

However, European countries didn’t discover the crop until 1492 when Christopher Columbus brought it back from Cuba.

A growing number of diverse industries use corn to produce their products, with annual production of the crop now exceeding that of rice and wheat. Corn plays a critical role in the world economy.

How is Corn Grown?

Corn is a member of the grass family and grows in diverse climates and regions around the world.

There are six varieties of the crop. All varieties grow in a similar manner. Farmers deposit seeds in an inch or two of soil and the seeds germinate in 5 to 12 days. The corn variety and soil temperature impact the timing of this process.

Corn’s Life Cycle

As the seeds sprout, they develop little leaves that resemble blades of grass. After further growth, the plants develop thick stalks and flat pointed leaves. Stalks can grow as high as 15 feet.

Once the stalks reach two-thirds of their full height, they begin the process of reproduction through pollination by wind. To ensure successful fertilization, farmers plant the seeds in short rows or blocks. This allows the silks from the female flowers to easily reach neighboring plants.

Corn grown in rows
Corn Grown in Rows by WhiskerFlowers from Pixabay

The Six Varieties of Corn

Corn VarietyDescription
Sweet cornA naturally sweet variety that is harvested immaturely
PopcornCharacterized by a hard outer shell and minimal soft starch content
Flour cornOne of the oldest varieties of corn with a soft starch content
Dent cornKnown as field corn, it accounts for 99% of US production
Flint corn Characterized by a hard glassy outer shell and grown primarily in Central and South America
Pod cornGrown mainly for ornamental purposes

Harvesting

The timing of harvests can have a big impact on the flavor of the corn. Corn harvested during the earlier “milk” stage is characterized by its sweetness, while corn harvested in the later “dough” stage is characterized by its starchy interior.

Planting and harvesting seasons vary by region and climate conditions. In the United States, which is the largest corn producer, most corn grows in the plains of states of the Midwest.

Planting and Crop Rotation

Planting occurs between April and June, and harvesting takes place between October and November. The southernmost regions generally plant first, while northern regions wait for the snow to melt and soil to thaw.

Corn can be rotated with other crops such as soybeans, so at the beginning of the planting season, farmers must decide which crop to grow.

Did you know that almost half of all farmers in Arizona are females? The state also accounts for a 4.31% share of all fruits and vegetables in the US.

The Corn-Soybean Spread

The corn-soybean spread is one tool farmers use to make this decision. This spread is the number of bushels of corn needed to buy a bushel of soybeans. When the ratio is below 2.2 to 1, corn is historically expensive, while a ratio above 2.4 to 1 signals historically expensive soybeans.

World's Biggest Corn Producers

Top Corn Producing Countries

RankFlagCountryCorn Produced (Million Metric Tons)
#1Flag of USAUnited States of America377.5
#2Flag of ChinaChina224.9
#3Flag of BrazilBrazil83
#4Flag of IndiaIndia42.3
#5Argentina FlagArgentina40
#6Flag of UkraineUkraine39.2
#7Flag of MexicoMexico32.6
#8Flag of IndonesiaIndonesia19
#9Flag of FranceFrance17.1
#10Flag of South AfricaSouth Africa15.5

Corn has many uses, and surprisingly, the most important ones do not involve food for humans. About two-thirds of corn produced in the United States goes to livestock feed and ethanol fuel.

Uses of Corn

Use of CornDescription
Livestock Feed
Livestock Icon
Corn accounts for more than 95% of feed grain production in the United States.
Ethanol
Gas Icon
Corn is the main feedstock used to produce ethanol, which is an important ingredient in gasoline.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
Candy Logo
This product made from corn starch is used to sweeten many products including ketchup, candies and soft drinks.
Corn Starch
Cooking Icon
This kitchen ingredient is used to thicken sauces and is also a chemical additive in some medical products.
Cereal
Cereal Icon
Many breakfast cereals contain corn.
Alcoholic Beverages
Liqor Icon
Some whiskeys and spirits are made with corn.
Miscellaneous Uses
Crayons Icon
A diverse array of everyday items contain corn including:
  • Plastics
  • Batteries
  • Deodorants
  • Cough drops
  • Diapers
  • Matchsticks
  • Carpets
  • Crayons
  • Glue
  • What’s the Price of Corn?

    Here’s a look at the recent price history of corn.

    What Drives the Price of Corn?

    The price of corn is usually highly correlated with the price of other agricultural products such as wheat and barley.

    Many of the economic factors that move corn prices specifically include:

    1. Ethanol Market
    2. Crude Oil Prices
    3. Chinese Demand
    4. The US Dollar
    5. Climate

    Ethanol Market

    Corn is playing a growing role in ethanol production, so demand for this fuel additive could have a big impact on corn prices.

    The US government heavily subsidizes corn farmers to boost ethanol production, and farmers make decisions about which crops to grow based on subsidies. If ethanol demand were to dissipate, then markets would have an excess supply of corn, and prices would likely head lower.

    Crude Oil Prices

    Because corn is increasingly being used to make fuels, its relationship with oil prices can’t be ignored.

    A rise in crude oil prices would likely cause a rise in demand for biofuels as consumers switch to cheaper alternatives.

    Agricultural commodities used in fuel production have high price correlations with crude oil.

    Chinese Demand

    Analyzing corn prices without mentioning China would be a huge omission. China is the world’s largest consumer of energy and largest importer of petroleum. The country’s energy needs are expected to remain enormous as its economy continues to grow.

    China is seeking out cheaper and more environmentally-friendly energy sources, and biofuels will play some role in this plan. Any slow down in growth in China could spell trouble for corn prices, while an uptick could lead to higher prices.

    The US Dollar

    As the world’s reserve currency, the dollar can often dictate the direction of commodity prices. When the value of the dollar drops against other currencies, it takes more dollars to purchase corn than it does when the price is high.

    Put another way, sellers of corn get fewer dollars for their product when the dollar is strong and more dollars when the currency is weak. The United States is the leading global corn producer, so it is unlikely that corn would be quoted in a different currency any time soon.

    Climate

    Climate can have a big effect on yields for corn crops.

    Moderate changes in weather patterns can increase the number of severely hot days in the growing season. These heat waves can dramatically reduce crop output and create price spikes.

    Farmers continue to try and develop more heat-resistant strains of corn, and production may shift north into Canada. In the meantime, corn traders must carefully monitor weather patterns.

    Where Can I Trade Corn?

    If you are interested in trading corn and other agricultural commodities, you can start your research with reviews of these regulated brokers available in .

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