Maize Emerges as India's Next Industrial Engine

India's maize production is undergoing a structural shift from being a traditional food and feed crop to an industrial raw material. The country's ethanol blending programme, aiming for a 20% blend by 2025-26, has driven demand for grain-based ethanol, with maize emerging as a preferred feedstock due to its year-round availability and lower water intensity compared to sugarcane.

Anil Kishorepuria, Founder & Managing Director of Regaal Resources Private Limited, notes that the expansion of India's Ethanol Blending Programme has been a significant trigger for this shift. Maize is now being used not only as ethanol but also in starch derivatives, liquid glucose, high-fructose sweeteners, and biodegradable materials.

The Indian starch industry alone consumes around 8-10 million tonnes annually and continues to expand with FMCG and food processing growth. India's maize production has increased significantly over the years, reaching 35-37 million tonnes annually, of which poultry and animal feed consume nearly 55-60%. However, ethanol currently accounts for less than one-fifth of total maize utilization.

To balance maize allocation between ethanol, starch industries, poultry feed, and exports without triggering price volatility, a coordinated supply-side strategy is required. The most effective stabilizer is productivity-led growth; even a one-tonne increase in national average yield could add 8-10 million tonnes of incremental supply. Strategic buffer mechanisms can help cushion feed industries during periods of tight availability.