Why India Isn’t Buying Corn From US, Even After Trump’s Tariff Pressure | Explained

Final Up to date:September 15, 2025, 15:44 IST

The controversy stems from India’s quickly rising demand for maize, largely pushed by ethanol mixing targets, growth of the poultry sector and rising industrial use

India at the moment imports corn from Myanmar and Ukraine duty-free. (AP Picture)

United States President Donald Trump has lashed out at India’s commerce selections, imposing a hefty 50% tariff and questioning why India refuses to purchase corn from America regardless of sourcing it from different nations.

“India brags that they’ve 1.4 billion individuals… why received’t they purchase one bushel of corn from us? Doesn’t that rub you the flawed manner? President says carry down the tariffs… now we have to proper years of flawed. You both settle for it or you’ll have a troublesome time doing enterprise with the world’s biggest shopper,” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick declared lately, triggering a storm of debate on each side of the globe.

The controversy stems from India’s quickly rising demand for maize, largely pushed by ethanol mixing targets, growth of the poultry sector and rising industrial use. Historically, India has been a surplus producer of maize and ranks because the world’s sixth-largest grower.

With an annual output of almost 4 crore tonnes – primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka – India has thus far been self-sufficient. Almost 50 to 60 per cent of this crop is diverted for animal feed, one other 15 to twenty per cent for ethanol manufacturing, 10 to fifteen per cent for meals consumption and the rest for industrial functions.

Nevertheless, the steadiness tilted in recent times. Because the ethanol coverage expanded and poultry feed necessities surged, India was a internet importer of maize. Imports rose sharply, from a mere 5,000 tonnes in 2023 to just about 10 lakh tonnes in 2024. India at the moment requires between 60 to 70 lakh tonnes yearly.

A lot of this maize has come from Myanmar and Ukraine. Ministry of Commerce knowledge exhibits that India imported almost 1-2 lakh tonnes from Myanmar in 2024 and 1.3 lakh tonnes extra until August 2025, all of it obligation free. Ukraine accounted for round 4 lakh tonnes between January and August 2025, additionally exempt from import obligation. Provides from Thailand and Argentina additional supplemented this basket.

But, not a single cargo has come from the USA. Analysts cite 4 causes. First, almost 90 per cent of American maize is genetically modified, one thing Indian laws strictly prohibit for each human and animal consumption. Second, the USA levies a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, whereas Ukraine and Myanmar maize enters obligation free. Third, greater logistics and freight prices make American corn uncompetitive within the Indian market. And eventually, India has repeatedly harassed its intent to guard home farmers by discouraging high-cost imports from superior economies.

For the US, the optics are galling. As Trump put it, if India can purchase maize from nations so far as Ukraine or as shut as Myanmar, “why not from us?”

For India, the reply lies in price, coverage and security requirements. Because the nation pushes in direction of doubling manufacturing to eight.6 crore tonnes by 2047, officers argue that dependence on imports have to be momentary, calibrated and by no means on the expense of farmer welfare.

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