Sorghum Seed Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Open-Pollinated Varieties Source, Hybrids), By Region, and By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 2.17 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.75%
Fastest Growing Segment	Open-Pollinated Varieties Source
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 3.03 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Sorghum Seed Market will grow from USD 2.17 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.03 Billion by 2031 at a 5.75% CAGR. Sorghum seeds are the propagative materials for Sorghum bicolor, a resilient cereal grain utilized extensively for human consumption, livestock forage, and biofuel production. The global market is primarily supported by the increasing necessity for drought-tolerant crops, as shifting climate patterns compel growers to seek alternatives to water-intensive grains. Additionally, the rising global demand for gluten-free nutritional products and the expansion of the animal feed sector provide foundational support for industry growth, distinct from transient technological trends.

However, the market confronts a significant challenge regarding the stiff competition from major commodity crops like maize, which often commands higher acreage due to established subsidies and supply chains. According to Sorghum-ID, in 2024, the European area dedicated specifically to sorghum seed multiplication reached a historic 2,600 hectares, representing a 34 percent increase compared to the previous year to address supply deficits. Despite such production efforts, price volatility in international trade remains a persistent obstacle that could impede long-term market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

The expansion of biofuel and ethanol production capabilities serves as a primary catalyst for the Global Sorghum Seed Market. As industries seek renewable alternatives to fossil fuels, sorghum has emerged as a preferred feedstock due to its high starch content and superior water-use efficiency compared to traditional crops like maize. This industrial shift has directly incentivized growers to increase acreage and invest in high-yield seed varieties specifically bred for energy conversion, moving the market beyond food-grade applications. The momentum in this sector is evident in recent processing data; according to the United States Department of Agriculture, February 2025, in the 'Feed Outlook' report, sorghum use for ethanol production during the first quarter of the marketing year was 64.5 percent higher than the same period in the previous year, highlighting the rapid intensification of industrial demand.

Simultaneously, the rising global demand for animal feed and forage continues to drive seed sales and international trade volumes. Livestock sectors in water-scarce regions rely heavily on sorghum as a cost-effective, nutritional substitute for other coarse grains, compelling exporters to ramp up production to meet these deficits. China remains the dominant force in this trade landscape, sustaining consistent procurement levels to support its massive animal husbandry industry. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, July 2025, in the 'China: Grain and Feed Update' report, sorghum imports into China are forecast to increase to 5 million metric tons for the 2025/26 marketing year. This export pull is complemented by production resilience in other key regions; according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, in 2025, national sorghum production was estimated to reach 2.4 million tonnes, ensuring steady supply availability for the global market.

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Key Market Challenges

The entrenched competition from major commodity crops, particularly maize, constitutes a formidable barrier to the expansion of the Global Sorghum Seed Market. This challenge is structurally ingrained in the agricultural sector, where maize benefits from established supply chains, higher consistent profitability, and extensive government subsidies that sorghum often lacks. Consequently, growers are economically incentivized to allocate their prime arable land to these dominant crops, relegating sorghum to marginal acreage or secondary rotational roles. This preference directly restricts the addressable market for sorghum seeds, as the demand for propagative materials is intrinsically linked to the total land area dedicated to cultivation.

The sheer scale of this competitive imbalance effectively limits the potential customer base for seed suppliers. According to the International Grains Council, in 2024, global maize production was forecast to reach approximately 1.22 billion tons, a volume that vastly overshadows the production capacity of alternative coarse grains. This massive market dominance creates a high barrier to entry for sorghum seed products, as the agricultural infrastructure remains heavily skewed toward supporting the production and processing of maize, thereby suppressing the adoption rates and volume growth of the sorghum seed sector.

Key Market Trends

The Commercialization of Non-GMO Herbicide-Tolerant Traits is fundamentally altering weed management protocols in sorghum production. Historically, growers struggled with controlling grass weeds due to a lack of selective herbicides, but new non-GMO traits now allow for over-the-top chemical application without crop damage. This technological shift is rapidly gaining market share as it directly improves harvest efficiency and grain purity, solving a long-standing agronomic pain point. According to S&W Seed Company, November 2024, in the 'Fiscal 2024 Financial Results', revenue from their proprietary Double Team sorghum trait increased by 68.1 percent during the fiscal year, highlighting the accelerated adoption of this technology by producers seeking cleaner fields.

Simultaneously, the Integration into Regenerative Agriculture and Carbon Credit Markets is redefining the economic value proposition of sorghum seeds beyond mere grain output. As agricultural policies prioritize sustainability, sorghum is increasingly utilized in low-carbon rotations to sequester carbon and improve soil health, supported by financial incentives that link seed choice to environmental outcomes. This trend is operationalized through large-scale data verification programs; according to the Ag Information Network of the West, June 2024, in the article 'National Sorghum Seeks More Producers to Participate in Climate Smart Program', the National Sorghum Producers have targeted capturing climate data from one million acres and delivering over $42 million directly to growers to incentivize these sustainable practices.

Segmental Insights

The Open-Pollinated Varieties segment is currently emerging as the fastest-growing category within the Global Sorghum Seed Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the cost-efficiency these seeds offer to smallholder farmers in developing regions, where sorghum is a vital staple. Unlike hybrid alternatives, open-pollinated varieties allow cultivators to retain seeds for subsequent planting seasons, significantly reducing recurring input costs. Furthermore, institutions such as the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) actively promote these resilient varieties to enhance food security in climate-vulnerable areas, thereby accelerating their adoption and driving market growth.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Sorghum Seed Market, driven largely by extensive production in the United States. The region experiences consistent demand from the animal feed sector and the renewable fuel industry, specifically for ethanol manufacturing. Strategic initiatives and support provided by the United States Department of Agriculture foster a stable production environment through crop programs and trade facilitation. Furthermore, robust export channels enable regional producers to meet international requirements effectively, solidifying the region's dominance in the global landscape without relying on external dependencies.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Nuseed entered into a strategic partnership with a major consumer goods company, Unilever, to advance the development and commercialization of biomass oil derived from sustainable crops, including forage sorghum. This collaboration focuses on leveraging biotechnology to optimize forage sorghum and energy cane for oil production, aiming to replace petrochemical-based ingredients in consumer products. The initiative builds on Nuseed’s existing expertise in bioenergy and value-added seed traits, marking a significant step in utilizing sorghum genetics for industrial applications and greenhouse gas reduction.
• In September 2024, RAGT Semences reached an agreement to acquire the Deleplanque Group, a move that significantly strengthens its position in the European seed market. This acquisition includes the integration of Deleplanque’s production and breeding capabilities, which complements RAGT's existing multi-species portfolio that includes sorghum, cereals, and sunflowers. The strategic operation was designed to consolidate research and development efforts and expand the company’s breeding programs. By combining resources, the company aims to enhance its offer of high-performing seed varieties to meet the diverse needs of farmers across the continent.
• In May 2024, S&W Seed Company announced the commercial launch of Double Team Forage Sorghum, an expansion of its proprietary sorghum trait technology portfolio. This new product provides forage growers with a non-GMO, over-the-top solution for controlling grassy weeds, a capability previously available mainly to grain sorghum producers. The company noted that this technology was designed to improve return on investment and yield by addressing weed pressure in forage production systems. The launch followed the successful market introduction of the company's grain sorghum counterpart, which had already seen significant acreage adoption across the United States.
• In March 2024, Seed Co Limited launched a new hybrid sorghum variety, SCXH102, as part of its efforts to address climate-induced challenges facing farmers in Southern Africa. The new variety was introduced during a field event at the company’s research station and is specifically bred to offer bird resistance, a critical trait for preventing yield losses in the region. The launch highlighted the company's focus on developing adaptable, resilient crops that can ensure food security despite adverse weather conditions such as drought. This development aligns with the company's broader strategy to deliver improved genetics to the African market.

Key Market Players

• UPL Ltd
• Corteva Inc
• Bayer CropScience AG
• KWS Saat SE & Co KGaA
• Groupe Limagrain Holding SA
• Nufarm Ltd
• Pannar Seed Pty Ltd
• Allied Seed LLC
• Seed Co Ltd

By Type	By Region
Open-Pollinated Varieties Source Hybrids	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Sorghum Seed Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Sorghum Seed Market, By Type:

• Open-Pollinated Varieties Source
• Hybrids

• Sorghum Seed Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE