The U.S. grows corn on a very large scale and produces almost three times more tonnes than the next leading country, China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the U.S. exports about 1,859 million bu. of the crop to other countries annually.

During processing, corn may either be wet or dry-milled depending on the desired use. Wet millers process corn into syrup, oil, starch, glucose and dextrose, beverage alcohol, industrial alcohol, and fuel ethanol. Dry millers process corn into cereal, flour, corn grits, cornmeal, and brewers grits for beer production. It is expected that food uses for corn will expand at the rate of population growth.