Maize prices may remain subdued in the shortterm despite a decline of about 4% in crop acreage, with experts attributing the downtrend to lower demand from the feeds industry and high-than-usual stockpiles. Used mainly as poultry feed and in starch manufacturing, the maize crop should hit the markets from November when the summer-sown grains are harvested.Spot prices of maize have been on a downturn across the country for more than a month.