BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — Assuming normal weather conditions, Colombian corn production in 2021-22 is expected to remain unchanged at 1.5 million tonnes, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In the 2020-21 marketing year, corn production is estimated to increase 105,000 tonnes from the previous year due to a 5% growth in planted area.

“The steady corn production in recent years has been the result of gradually improving yields due to advances in technology and substitution of traditional planting by modern crops,” the USDA said.

Corn consumption in 2021-22 is forecast to increase by 2.4% to 7.6 million tonnes driven by the economic recovery that will increase demand, primarily, from the animal feed sector. Poultry and livestock sectors are expected to recuperate their pre-COVID-19 growth trend driven by recovering demand for animal protein.

Corn imports for 2021-22 are estimated at 6.1 million tonnes with the United States accounting for 80%.