Maize, grown on 15 million hectares in the EU-28 (14% of the EU’s arable land, and 8% of worldwide maize acreage), is the leading cereal in terms of global production volumes. Its principal use is feed (83%), followed by starch manufacturing (15%) and cornmeal (2%).
14.7 Mha of maize acreage in the EU-28 in 2016
- Corn: 8.5 Mha (-4%)
- Maize silage: 6.0 Mha (stable)
- Maize seed: 134,000 ha (stable)
- Sweet corn: 67,000 ha (-4%)
And a total maize acreage of 12.7 Mha in the main European producer countries outside the EU-28
- Ukraine: 4.9 Mha (+5%)
- Russia: 4.5 Mha (+4%)
- Serbia: 1 Mha (stable)
- Belarus: 0.8 Mha (-22%)
- Turkey: 0.8 Mha (-6%)
- Moldova: 0.5 Mha (stable)