Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
EU corn imports rise 40% as drought cuts harvest
EU corn imports rose 40% in the 2026/27 season through October 18, compared with the same period a year earlier.
Since the season began in July, the bloc imported 6.64 million tonnes of corn, including 2.9 million tonnes from the United States.
US shipments were more than three times higher than a year earlier, as drought is expected to leave the EU with its smallest harvest since at least 2000.
The shortfall has pushed animal-feed and starch producers to seek corn from abroad.
Ukraine’s shipments to the EU more than doubled to 1.62 million tonnes, while Brazil’s fell to 1.82 million tonnes from 2.74 million.
EU soft-wheat exports were unchanged from a year earlier at 8.47 million tonnes through October 18.
EU corn imports rose 40% in the 2026/27 season through October 18 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Imports reached 6.64 million metric tons, including 2.9 million tons from the United States.
The increase comes as drought-hit EU corn harvests are expected to be the smallest since at least 2000.
Ukraine shipments to the EU more than doubled, while imports from Brazil fell.
- Who
- The European Union and its corn suppliers, including the United States, Ukraine and Brazil.
- What
- EU corn imports rose 40% in the 2026/27 season through October 18 compared with the same period a year earlier.
- When
- Data covered the season through October 18 and were released on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- The European Union.
- Why
- Drought is expected to leave the EU with its smallest corn harvest since at least 2000, prompting feed and starch companies to make up for crop losses.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The EU’s 2026/27 corn import season began.
EU corn imports reached 6.64 million metric tons, 40% above the same period a year earlier.
The European Commission released the import data.
- EU corn imports
- 6.64 million metric tons through October 18
- Year-on-year change
- Up 40%
- United States shipments
- 2.9 million metric tons, compared with about 900,000 a year earlier
- Ukraine shipments
- 1.62 million metric tons, up from 770,000
- Brazil shipments
- 1.82 million metric tons, down from 2.74 million
- EU soft wheat exports
- 8.47 million metric tons, unchanged year on year through October 18