by - 📌 1. Introduction to Yellow Maize Exports from India
- 📦 2. HS Code & Product Classification
- 📈 3. Export Potential of Yellow Maize
- 📝 4. Licenses & Registrations Required
- ✅ 5. Quality Standards & Specifications
- 🎯 6. Packaging & Labelling
- ⚓ 7. Logistics & Shipping
- 🌍 8. How to Find Buyers for Maize
- 💰 9. Payment Terms & Risk Management
- 📦 10. Step-by-Step Export Process
- ⚠️ 11. Challenges in Maize Export
- 💡 12. Tips for New Exporters
- 🧭 13. Conclusion
- 📞 Need Help Starting?
India is one of the top producers of yellow maize (corn) in the world. Known for its high starch content and competitive pricing, Indian maize is in high demand across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa — especially for animal feed, poultry, dairy, and industrial uses.
If you are a trader, agri-entrepreneur, or a farmer group looking to enter global markets, exporting maize can be a highly profitable business. In this blog, we’ll walk you step by step through everything you need to know about how to export yellow maize from India.
📌 1. Introduction to Yellow Maize Exports from India
Yellow maize (Zea mays L.) is a cereal grain used in:
- 🐔 Poultry & animal feed (main use)
- 🍞 Human food (cornmeal, tortillas, etc.)
- 🧪 Industrial uses (ethanol, starch, oil)
India produces over 30 million metric tons of maize annually (as per APEDA data), with major production states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
🌍 Major export destinations:
- Vietnam
- Malaysia
- Bangladesh
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Yemen
- Oman
- Qatar
- Philippines
📦 2. HS Code & Product Classification
Understanding the correct HS (Harmonized System) Code is crucial for customs clearance and export documentation.
| Product | HS Code |
|---|---|
| Maize (corn), other than seed | 10059000 |
| Maize seed | 10051000 |
✅ For most feed-grade yellow maize exports, you’ll use HS Code 10059000.
📈 3. Export Potential of Yellow Maize
- India’s maize exports crossed $1 billion in 2023–24.
- The global animal feed market is booming, with steady demand in Asia and Middle East.
- Indian maize is price-competitive and meets international standards (low aflatoxin, good protein).
Top importing countries:
| Country | Typical Monthly Import |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 2 – 4 lakh MT |
| Malaysia | 50 – 80 k MT |
| Bangladesh | 1 – 2 lakh MT |
| Nepal | 20 – 40 k MT |
| UAE / Oman | 10 – 30 k MT |
📝 4. Licenses & Registrations Required
To start exporting yellow maize from India, you need the following:
| Document | Issuing Authority | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Import Export Code (IEC) | DGFT (https://dgft.gov.in) | Mandatory for all exports |
| GST Registration | GST Portal | Required for domestic transactions |
| FSSAI License (Optional) | FSSAI | If exporting for human consumption |
| APEDA Registration | APEDA (https://apeda.gov.in) | Not compulsory but useful for subsidies, RCMCs |
✅ 5. Quality Standards & Specifications
For animal feed grade maize, international buyers look for the following specs:
| Parameter | Standard Value (Typical) |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Max 14 % |
| Protein | Min 7 % |
| Foreign Matter | Max 2 % |
| Broken Kernels | Max 2 – 3 % |
| Aflatoxin | Max 20 ppb |
| Test Weight | Min 68 – 72 kg/hl |
| Origin | India |
| Crop Year | Latest Season |
| Fumigation | Mandatory before shipment |
🎯 6. Packaging & Labelling
- Standard Packing:
– 40 kg PP bags (most common)
– 25 kg or 50 kg also accepted depending on buyer - Labeling should include:
– Product Name: Yellow Maize – Animal Feed Grade
– Net Weight
– Origin: India
– Batch Number / Crop Year
– Exporter Name & Contact
⚓ 7. Logistics & Shipping
📍 Common Indian ports for maize export:
- Kakinada Port (Andhra Pradesh) – 🌾 main hub
- Krishnapatnam Port (AP)
- Vizag Port (Andhra Pradesh)
- Mundra Port (Gujarat)
- Nhava Sheva / JNPT (Maharashtra)
🚢 Shipping Terms:
- FOB (Free on Board) – Buyer handles freight
- CIF (Cost Insurance Freight) – Exporter handles full delivery to buyer’s port
📦 Container Type:
- Usually shipped in 20’ containers
- Bulk shipments also possible via break-bulk vessel
🌍 8. How to Find Buyers for Maize
Here are reliable ways to connect with genuine international buyers:
🔹 B2B Portals:
- Alibaba.com
- TradeIndia / IndiaMART (Export Section)
- Tradekey.com
- ExportersIndia.com
🔹 Export Promotion Councils:
- Register with APEDA
- Participate in buyer–seller meets, trade fairs, export exhibitions
🔹 Social Media & Networking:
- LinkedIn outreach
- Facebook export groups
- WhatsApp export communities
🔹 Direct Email Marketing:
- Prepare a professional product profile with specs + images
- Email to potential importers / feed mills / trading companies
💰 9. Payment Terms & Risk Management
International buyers may propose different payment terms:
| Term | Meaning | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Payment (100 %) | Full payment before shipment | 🔒 Safe |
| 30 % Advance + 70 % on Copy B/L | Partial upfront + rest after shipment | ✅ Moderate |
| LC (Letter of Credit) | Bank-to-bank guarantee | 🛡️ Safe |
| DP (Documents against Payment) | Buyer pays at sight of documents | ⚠️ Risky if new buyer |
✅ Always use export credit insurance via ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India) if doing high-value shipments.
📦 10. Step-by-Step Export Process
Here’s a simplified roadmap for exporting yellow maize from India:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Register your company + obtain IEC |
| 2️⃣ | Source maize from farmers / mandi / suppliers |
| 3️⃣ | Test quality in NABL lab (Moisture, Aflatoxin etc.) |
| 4️⃣ | Finalize buyer & negotiate terms (FOB/CIF) |
| 5️⃣ | Pack maize in export-worthy PP bags |
| 6️⃣ | Arrange fumigation + phytosanitary certificate |
| 7️⃣ | Book shipping container & arrange CHA (Custom House Agent) |
| 8️⃣ | File export documents (Invoice, Packing List, Shipping Bill, Certificate of Origin) |
| 9️⃣ | Load at port + receive Bill of Lading |
| 🔟 | Send documents to buyer & receive payment |
⚠️ 11. Challenges in Maize Export
- 🌦️ Seasonal availability (main harvest: Oct – Feb)
- 📉 Price volatility in mandi markets
- 🐞 Aflatoxin & quality rejections if not fumigated properly
- 📑 Payment risk with new buyers
- 📜 Regulatory restrictions (DGFT sometimes restricts exports in case of domestic shortage)
💡 12. Tips for New Exporters
- ✅ Always buy freshly harvested maize to reduce moisture content.
- ✅ Insist on pre-shipment quality inspection (SGS / Cotecna / Intertek).
- ✅ Keep buffer stock ready to handle urgent orders.
- ✅ Work with a reliable CHA + freight forwarder.
- ✅ Start with small shipments (1 container) to build buyer trust.
🧭 13. Conclusion
Exporting yellow maize from India is a profitable and scalable business opportunity. With the right knowledge of documentation, quality control, packaging, and buyer sourcing, you can build a consistent export pipeline.
India’s competitive pricing, strong supply chain, and increasing demand for non-GMO maize make it a hot commodity in the global agro-market. Whether you’re a farmer, trader, or agri-startup, yellow maize export can become a cornerstone of your export journey.
📞 Need Help Starting?
💡 At StartExportIndia.com, we provide:
- 📘 A beginner-friendly eBook: Start Exporting from India in 30 Days (₹299)
- 💼 One-on-One Export Mentorship Program (₹14,999)
- 📞 Personal guidance, document help, buyer-finding strategies, and more.
📲 Contact us today
📧 Email: startexportindiaa@gmail.com
