Corn Wet-Milling Global Market Report 2026

Corn wet-milling is a process that involves the physical separation of corn into proteins, starches, oil, and fiber through the use of water and specialized machinery. In this method, corn kernels are immersed in steep tanks containing a diluted aqueous sulfur dioxide solution. The kernels undergo softening and treatment to eliminate the germ, which is then further processed to extract the valuable maize oil.

The primary sources of corn wet-milling are dent corn and waxy corn. Dent corn refers to a type of corn with kernels that mature and exhibit a dent at the top. Dent corn serves as the foundational ingredient for various products such as cornmeal flour, tortillas, corn chips, and taco shells. The equipment utilized in corn wet milling includes milling equipment, steeping equipment, centrifuge systems, washing and filtration systems, among others. The resulting end-products encompass starch, sweetener, ethanol, corn gluten meal and gluten feed, and more.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs are significantly impacting the corn wet-milling market by increasing the cost of imported milling machinery, centrifuge systems, filtration units, and processing chemicals used in large-scale wet-milling operations. These higher costs are particularly affecting starch, sweetener, and ethanol production facilities in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia-Pacific that rely on specialized imported equipment. As a result, capital expenditure requirements and operational costs have increased, affecting profit margins. However, tariffs are also encouraging domestic manufacturing of processing equipment, localization of spare parts supply, and investment in process optimization technologies that reduce long-term import dependence.

The corn wet-milling market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides corn wet-milling market statistics, including corn wet-milling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a corn wet-milling market share, detailed corn wet-milling market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the corn wet-milling industry. This corn wet-milling market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The corn wet-milling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $83.64 billion in 2025 to $88.17 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of food and beverage processing industries, growth in animal feed production, rising demand for corn-derived sweeteners, increased ethanol blending mandates, availability of large-scale wet-milling facilities.

The corn wet-milling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $108.85 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for bio-based chemicals, rising focus on sustainable starch production, expansion of industrial fermentation applications, growing investments in processing efficiency, increasing adoption of advanced separation technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include improved efficiency in corn fractionation processes, rising adoption of automated steeping and milling systems, growing demand for high-purity starch and sweeteners, expansion of ethanol and bio-based byproducts production, enhanced focus on water and energy optimization.

The growing demand for corn-based products is driving the expansion of the corn wet-milling market in the future. Corn-based products include items made from corn, such as corn flakes and flours. As the demand for these products rises, the need for corn wet-milling increases, as this process enhances product purity. For example, in February 2024, the International Grains Council (IGC), a London-based intergovernmental organization, reported that global corn consumption reached 1,177 million tonnes in 2022/23, while corn production was 1,156 million tonnes in the same period. Thus, the increasing demand for corn-based products is expected to propel the growth of the corn wet-milling market.

Leading companies in the corn wet-milling market are emphasizing technological innovations, such as clean-label functional native starches, to address the growing demand for natural, "label-friendly" food ingredients and the increased use of corn-derived starch in processed foods, clean-label dairy/alternative-dairy products, and plant-based applications. Clean-label functional native starch is extracted and processed from corn, is non-GMO, minimally modified, and can be labeled simply as "corn starch" or "corn flour," unlike traditional modified starches that require chemical or physical alterations to enhance functional properties such as thickening, gelling, or stabilizing under heat and freeze/thaw conditions. For example, in February 2024, Ingredion Incorporated, a US-based specialty-ingredients company, launched NOVATION Indulge 2940, a clean-label, non-GMO functional native corn starch designed to provide desirable gelling and mouthfeel for dairy, alternative-dairy desserts, puddings, and other applications. This starch consists of corn-derived native starch granules, processed through proprietary methods to deliver gel strength, viscosity, and texture comparable to modified starches, enabling formulators to replace additives like gelatin or hydrocolloids. Its key features include clean-label declaration, improved texture and mouthfeel, reliable supply, cost stability, and suitability for plant-based and clean-label formulations. Applications include yogurts, puddings, vegan cheeses, dairy desserts, sauces, and other products requiring simple, recognizable ingredient lists.

In March 2025, Cargill Inc., a US-based food processing company, partnered with Saatvik Agro Processors to expand its manufacturing presence in India and secure a reliable, locally sourced supply of starch derivatives to meet growing domestic demand. Saatvik Agro Processors is an India-based manufacturer operating a corn-milling facility producing starch derivatives for confectionery, dairy, infant formula, and other food applications.

Major companies operating in the corn wet-milling market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Incorporated, Ingredion Incorporated, Tate & Lyle PLC, Roquette Freres SA, Grain Processing Corporation, Agrana Beteiligungs-AG, China Agri-Industries Holding Limited, Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Company Limited, National Starch LLC, Penford Corporation, Cereal Ingredients Inc., LifeLine Foods LLC, Bunge Limited, The Andersons Inc., Flint Hills Resources LP, Valero Energy Corporation, GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc., Pacific Ethanol Inc., Green Plains Inc., Roquette America Inc., Ingredion Mexico S.A. de C.V.

North America was the largest region in the corn wet-milling market share in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the corn wet-milling market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the corn wet-milling market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The corn wet-milling market consists of sales of heating and cooling systems, dryers, and utility equipment. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Corn Wet-Milling Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses corn wet-milling market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

Reasons to Purchase

• Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 16 geographies.
• Assess the impact of key macro factors such as geopolitical conflicts, trade policies and tariffs, inflation and interest rate fluctuations, and evolving regulatory landscapes.
• Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis.
• Identify growth segments for investment.
• Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
• Understand customers based on end user analysis.
• Benchmark performance against key competitors based on market share, innovation, and brand strength.
• Evaluate the total addressable market (TAM) and market attractiveness scoring to measure market potential.
• Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis
• Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 2-3 working days of order along with an Excel data sheet for easy data extraction and analysis.
• All data from the report will also be delivered in an excel dashboard format.

Where is the largest and fastest growing market for corn wet-milling ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The corn wet-milling market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Source: Dent Corn; Waxy Corn
• 2) By Equipment: Milling Equipment; Steeping Equipment; Centrifuge Systems; Washing And Filtration Systems; Other Equipment
• 3) By End-product: Starch; Sweetener; Corn Gluten Meal And Gluten Feed; Other End-Products
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Dent Corn: Field Corn; Yellow Dent Corn; White Dent Corn
• 2) By Waxy Corn: High-Amylose Waxy Corn; Low-Amylose Waxy Corn
• Companies Mentioned: Archer Daniels Midland Company; Cargill Incorporated; Ingredion Incorporated; Tate & Lyle PLC; Roquette Freres SA; Grain Processing Corporation; Agrana Beteiligungs-AG; China Agri-Industries Holding Limited; Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Company Limited; National Starch LLC; Penford Corporation; Cereal Ingredients Inc.; LifeLine Foods LLC; Bunge Limited; The Andersons Inc.; Flint Hills Resources LP; Valero Energy Corporation; GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc.; Pacific Ethanol Inc.; Green Plains Inc.; Roquette America Inc.; Ingredion Mexico S.A. de C.V.
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: Word, PDF or Interactive Report
• + Excel Dashboard
• Added Benefits
• Bi-Annual Data Update
• Customisation
• Expert Consultant Support

Added Benefits available all on all list-price licence purchases, to be claimed at time of purchase. Customisations within report scope and limited to 20% of content and consultant support time limited to 8 hours.