Buyer's guide
Common grades and specifications
- Yellow corn (feed and industrial) and white corn (food)
- US grades No. 1 to No. 5 (No. 2 and No. 3 are common in trade)
- Key specs: moisture, broken corn and foreign material, damaged kernels, aflatoxin (ppb limit set by the importing country)
- GMO or non-GMO (with identity preservation if needed)
Typical packaging
Bulk vessel for large lots; bulk-in-container or 50 kg bags for smaller ones.
Typical minimum order
Vessel cargoes are large; containerised orders start at one container.
HS code (4-digit headings)
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 1005 | Maize (corn) |
Guidance only. The exact 6- to 10-digit code depends on the product and the importing country's tariff. Confirm with your customs broker.
Incoterms tips
For bulk vessel cargo, FOB, CFR and CIF are the usual Incoterms® 2020 rules (they are for sea and inland waterway only). Name the exact load or discharge port, and agree who appoints the inspection company at loading.
Quality documents to request
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Independent quality and weight certificates
- Aflatoxin / mycotoxin analysis
- Non-GMO certificate if specified
Sourcing notes
Corn is plant-based and accepted as is.
Price benchmark
| Benchmark | Price | m/m |
|---|---|---|
| Maize (US Gulf) | 227 $/mt | -5.5% |
Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), Updated on November 03, 2026. Nominal US dollars, CC BY 4.0. Benchmarks are reference prices at named origins/ports, not offers on OfferBulk.