Global Sorghum Production: Leading Countries and Regional Trends
🌾 Sorghum is a critical cereal crop that ranks as the fifth most important grain in the world.
Known for its exceptional drought resistance and heat tolerance, it serves as a primary food source in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia, while acting as a vital industrial and feed commodity in the Americas. Based on the latest data and projections for the 2024/2025 marketing year, global production is estimated at approximately 62 million tonnes.
Top Sorghum Producing Countries
The following table outlines the leading nations in sorghum production, highlighting the diverse ways this crop is utilized across different economies.
| Rank | Country | Estimated Production (Million Tonnes) | Primary Use |
| 1 | United States | 9.1 | Livestock Feed and Ethanol |
| 2 | Nigeria | 6.8 | Human Consumption and Brewing |
| 3 | Brazil | 5.8 | Animal Feed and Export |
| 4 | India | 5.2 | Food Staple and Fodder |
| 5 | Ethiopia | 4.8 | Food Security and Traditional Foods |
| 6 | Mexico | 4.4 | Livestock Feed |
| 7 | Sudan | 4.1 | Essential Food Staple |
| 8 | China | 3.4 | Traditional Distilling (Baijiu) |
| 9 | Argentina | 2.9 | International Export and Feed |
| 10 | Australia | 2.4 | Export and Cattle Feed |
Key Regional Dynamics
Sub-Saharan Africa
This region accounts for the largest share of the world's sorghum harvested area. In countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Sudan, sorghum is a fundamental "food security" crop. It is highly valued because it can produce a reliable harvest in environments where maize often fails due to low rainfall. While it leads in area, the region faces a "yield gap" compared to more mechanized nations, though local production continues to rise to meet the needs of a growing population.
The Americas
Production in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina is highly commercialized and mechanized. The U.S. remains the world's largest producer and exporter, frequently supplying China's demand for feed and spirits. Brazil has seen the most rapid growth recently, as farmers have successfully integrated sorghum into their second-crop (safrinha) rotations following the harvest of summer soybeans.
Asia and Oceania
In India, sorghum (known locally as Jowar) is shifting from a subsistence crop to a more commercialized product used for both food and livestock fodder. China is unique in that it is both a major producer and the world's largest importer; its domestic production is largely dedicated to the lucrative "Baijiu" liquor industry, necessitating imports for its massive livestock sector.
Top Countries by Sorghum Production Growth (2024–2025)
The global sorghum market has entered a phase of expansion, driven by its reputation as a "climate-smart" crop. While traditional leaders like the United States have faced yield fluctuations due to localized droughts, other regions—specifically in South America and parts of Europe—are seeing double-digit growth percentages as they adopt sorghum to replace more water-intensive grains.
The following table highlights the countries with the highest projected year-over-year production growth for the 2024/25 period, based on FAO and USDA market data.
| Rank | Country | Growth Rate (%) | Key Drivers |
| 1 | France | ~17% – 20% | Massive expansion in planting area as a drought-resistant alternative to maize. |
| 2 | Argentina | ~15% | Recovery from previous drought years and strong export demand from China. |
| 3 | Brazil | ~12% | Integration into the "second harvest" (safrinha) cycle and biofuel demand. |
| 4 | Australia | ~9% | Favorable rainfall in Queensland and New South Wales boosting yields. |
| 5 | Mexico | ~4.6% | Increased domestic demand for poultry feed and stabilizing weather patterns. |
| 6 | Nigeria | ~3.5% | Expansion of cultivated land in northern regions to bolster food security. |
| 7 | Bolivia | ~3.4% | Emergence as a significant regional player with increasing seed technology adoption. |
Analysis of High-Growth Regions
The European "Sorghum Surge"
Europe is currently the "overachiever" in growth percentage. In countries like France and Italy, the grain sorghum area has increased by over 30% in a single year. This is not just a trend but a strategic shift; as heatwaves become more frequent, farmers are opting for sorghum’s 40% lower water requirement compared to maize.
South American Expansion
Brazil is the most consistent growth story. Over the last decade, Brazilian sorghum production has jumped nearly 400%. For the 2024/25 season, the growth is fueled by the crop's "liquidity"—farmers can easily sell it to the growing domestic poultry industry or for the production of ethanol. Argentina is also rebounding sharply, with production rising back toward 3 million tonnes as climate conditions normalize.
Resilience in Africa
While Africa has a lower percentage growth compared to the industrial surges in Europe or Brazil, its volume growth is massive. Nigeria remains the continent's powerhouse. The 3.5% growth represents hundreds of thousands of additional tonnes, which are critical for the domestic food market and traditional brewing industries.
Market Outlook for 2025
Industrial Shift: For the first time, industrial use of sorghum (primarily for ethanol) is projected to grow by over 2.4% globally.
Export Competition: Brazil is making significant inroads into the Chinese market, which was historically dominated by U.S. and Australian exports.
Yield Improvements: Average global yields are expected to hit 3.9–4.2 tonnes per hectare in 2025, a result of modern breeding advancements for drought tolerance.
Refinery Sorghum Production by Country (2024–2025)
While "refinery sorghum" is not a standard botanical category, it refers to sorghum production specifically destined for industrial processing—primarily for bioethanol refineries, commercial distilleries (such as China’s Baijiu industry), and syrup production.
The following table highlights the estimated production volumes and primary industrial "refining" use for the 2024/25 marketing year.
| Rank | Country | Production for Industrial Use (Est. Tonnes) | Primary "Refinery" Application |
| 1 | United States | 4.2 Million | Bioethanol Fuel and Distillers Grains (DDGS) |
| 2 | China | 3.5 Million | Spirit Distilling (Baijiu) and Industrial Starch |
| 3 | Brazil | 1.8 Million | Bioethanol and Corn-Ethanol Supplementation |
| 4 | France | 450,000 | Animal Feed Processing and Bio-Energy |
| 5 | Argentina | 400,000 | Industrial Export Processing and Biofuels |
| 6 | Australia | 320,000 | Commercial Feed Milling and Brewing |
| 7 | India | 250,000 | Potable Alcohol and Industrial Starch |
Global Industrial Context
The Biofuel Shift (USA & Brazil)
The United States is the global leader in "refining" sorghum into fuel. Roughly 30% to 50% of the total U.S. sorghum crop is typically directed to ethanol plants. This process not only creates fuel but also produces a high-protein byproduct called Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), which is sold as premium livestock feed. Brazil is following this model, rapidly expanding its sorghum acreage to provide "off-season" feedstock for its massive ethanol infrastructure.
The Beverage Industry (China)
China represents a unique "refinery" market. Unlike the U.S., where sorghum is mostly for fuel, China "refines" nearly its entire domestic crop—and millions of imported tonnes—into Baijiu, the world’s most-consumed spirit. Sorghum is the preferred grain for this process due to its specific tannin content, which contributes to the beverage's unique flavor profile.
European Energy Diversification
In the European Union, specifically France and Italy, sorghum is increasingly viewed as a "refinery" crop for biogas and bioethanol. Because it requires significantly less water and fertilizer than maize, it is being integrated into European green energy mandates as a more sustainable feedstock.
Technical Processing Yields
In a refinery setting, sorghum provides competitive conversion rates compared to other grains:
Ethanol Yield: Approximately 2.7 to 2.8 gallons per bushel (similar to maize).
Starch Content: Typically ranges from 70% to 75%, making it ideal for industrial fermentation.
Water Efficiency: Refineries favor sorghum in water-stressed regions because the "water footprint" of the raw material is significantly lower than that of sugarcane or corn.
Would you like me to find data on the specific number of ethanol plants currently equipped to process sorghum in these top countries?
The Future of Sorghum
As climate change increases the frequency of extreme heat and drought, the global agricultural community is placing greater emphasis on sorghum. Its ability to thrive with 30% to 40% less water than maize makes it a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture in the 21st century.
Future production increases are expected to come from genetic improvements in seed varieties and better soil management in developing regions, which could significantly boost global food supply without requiring a vast increase in land use.
