Maize oil, also known as corn oil, is primarily produced in countries with significant maize cultivation, with the United States leading global production, followed by China, Brazil, and Argentina. The history of maize oil production traces back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when advances in industrial processing enabled the extraction of oil from maize germ, a byproduct of corn milling. Originally cultivated by indigenous peoples in the Americas, maize spread worldwide after European contact, but it was not until technological innovations like solvent extraction and refining in the United States that maize oil became a commercial product. Today, maize oil is valued for its high smoke point and mild flavor, making it a popular choice for cooking and food manufacturing, with the largest producers leveraging their vast maize harvests and advanced processing infrastructure to dominate global markets.
Rank | Country | Metric Tonnes |
---|---|---|
1 | United States of America | 996,152 |
2 | China | 555,545 |
3 | Brazil | 206,653 |
4 | South Africa | 84,400 |
5 | Italy | 74,200 |
6 | Japan | 72,845 |
7 | France | 65,100 |
8 | Belgium | 63,600 |
9 | Canada | 63,500 |
10 | Turkey | 57,600 |
11 | Argentina | 50,200 |
12 | South Korea | 49,347 |
13 | Venezuela | 39,557 |
14 | Hungary | 38,800 |
15 | Mexico | 32,749 |
16 | North Korea | 32,275 |
17 | United Kingdom | 31,300 |
18 | Tanzania | 30,463 |
19 | Mozambique | 29,267 |
20 | Spain | 24,500 |
21 | Germany | 17,500 |
22 | Kenya | 15,414 |
23 | Paraguay | 14,604 |
24 | Azerbaijan | 13,822 |
25 | Philippines | 13,267 |
26 | Colombia | 12,021 |
27 | Oman | 12,000 |
28 | Croatia | 11,900 |
29 | Russia | 11,741 |
30 | Zimbabwe | 11,412 |
31 | Ukraine | 11,057 |
32 | Moldova | 8,900 |
33 | Uzbekistan | 8,255 |
34 | Bulgaria | 8,200 |
35 | Honduras | 8,031 |
36 | Singapore | 8,000 |
37 | China Taiwan | 7,929 |
38 | India | 6,844 |
39 | Uruguay | 5,800 |
40 | Greece | 5,200 |
41 | Indonesia | 4,818 |
42 | Portugal | 4,300 |
43 | Serbia | 4,000 |
44 | Slovenia | 1,753 |
45 | New Zealand | 1,517 |
46 | Slovakia | 1,365 |
47 | Australia | 1,103 |
48 | Estonia | 1,000 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat