Buying Maize in Bulk in India: Buyers, Specs and Seasons
Maize wholesale in India: who buys feed and food grade, what sets the price, moisture and aflatoxin limits, kharif and rabi timing, monthly supply.
By PingB2B·Updated 6 October 2026
Short answer
Most bulk maize in India is yellow maize for poultry and cattle feed, starch and ethanol. It trades on moisture, damaged grain, foreign matter and aflatoxin, and the price follows two harvests: kharif from September, rabi from March. Order by end use, specification, monthly quantity and delivery point, with a moisture deduction agreed.
1. Who buys it and what they order
| Buyer | What they order | What they check |
|---|---|---|
| Poultry feed mills | Yellow maize, feed grade | Aflatoxin, moisture and damaged grain |
| Cattle feed makers | Feed grade, often drier rabi maize | Moisture and foreign matter |
| Starch makers | Sound grain with few broken kernels | Starch yield |
| Distilleries and ethanol plants | Feed grade | Starch content and moisture |
| Flour, grits and cornflakes makers | Food grade, cleaned and sorted | Colour, size and food-safety limits |
2. What sets the price
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Season | Softest when harvest arrivals peak, September to December and March to June. Firms between crops. |
| Moisture | Each point above the agreed limit comes off the weight you pay for. |
| Aflatoxin and damaged grain | Lots over the limit are discounted or rejected by feed mills. |
| Ethanol demand | Distilleries compete with feed mills for the same grain. |
| Freight | A delivered price includes the truck from the growing state. Ask for ex-mandi and delivered. |
3. What to put on the order
| Parameter | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Yellow maize, feed or food grade | The two grades carry different limits and prices |
| Moisture | Maximum %, with a deduction above it | Wet maize loses weight and grows mould |
| Damaged and broken grain | Maximum % each | Lowers feed value and starch yield |
| Foreign matter | Maximum % | Otherwise dust and cob pieces are paid for at maize price |
| Aflatoxin | Maximum in ppb, tested on the lot | The main safety risk in maize |
| Quantity and delivery | Tonnes per load and per month, and the delivery point | Sets planning and freight |
4. Two crops a year
| Crop | Arrivals | Main states | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | September to December | Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan | High moisture in early arrivals |
| Rabi | March to June | Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu | Drier grain, preferred by feed mills |
5. Running a monthly supply
- Name the weighbridge whose weight counts: at loading or at your gate.
- Agree a moisture deduction in writing for each point above the limit.
- Test aflatoxin on the first loads and keep a sample from each lot until it is used.
- Fix how the price is set: a fixed rate for a period, or a monthly reset against an agreed reference.
- Say what happens when a contract runs across September or March, when price and quality move.
Request quotes
Grade, quantity and delivery point.
Official checks and useful references
Agmarknet — Agricultural Marketing Information Network ↗
Government data on daily maize arrivals and mandi prices across India.
FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ↗
Sets contaminant limits, including aflatoxin, for maize used in food.
Directorate of Marketing and Inspection (AGMARK) ↗
Publishes AGMARK grade specifications for maize.
Related buyer guides
Frequently asked questions
What moisture should I accept in maize?
Write a maximum moisture on the order and a deduction for every point above it, rather than rejecting loads outright. Wet maize loses weight as it dries and grows mould in storage. Early kharif arrivals in September and October often run wet, so the clause matters most then.
Why does aflatoxin matter in maize?
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by moulds that grow on maize, particularly when grain is stored damp. It passes through feed into poultry and livestock, and food-grade maize is subject to legal limits. Agree a maximum in parts per billion, test the first loads on arrival and keep a sample of each lot.
When is maize cheapest in India?
Supply is heaviest at harvest: kharif arrivals from September to December and rabi arrivals from March to June. Prices usually soften as arrivals peak and firm up between crops. Buying at the peak can save money but means taking more moisture risk early in the kharif season.
Can I get maize supplied every month?
Yes. Feed mills and distilleries commonly buy maize on a monthly schedule. Fix the specification once, agree the weighbridge, moisture deduction and aflatoxin testing, and decide how the price is set each month. Send the monthly quantity and delivery point with the requirement.
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