Cassava market in Central America

Earlier Report Observations

The cassava market in Central America experienced sustained growth in production and market volume between 2018 and 2023. Production rose from 416.1 thousand tons to 513.7 thousand tons, while market size increased from 281.7 thousand tons to 382.5 thousand tons, stabilizing at this level in 2023. This expansion was primarily driven by the growth of the cassava processing industry, which recorded a compound annual growth rate of approximately 2.9% from 2018 to 2024, due to higher usage in the food sector and technological advancements.

Regional initiatives to enhance production and exports played a key role. Costa Rica emerged as a dominant exporter, supplying 92% of the fresh cassava market in the United States by 2023 and becoming a top supplier of frozen cassava to the European Union. Concurrently, Honduras and Nicaragua invested in agricultural research, with Honduras' SAG introducing new cassava varieties and supporting smallholder farmers to boost yields and commercial output.

The development of value-added products, such as frozen and paraffined cassava, extended shelf life and met growing demand for convenient foods post-pandemic. Guatemala reported a 21% surge in exports of canned and frozen cassava products by 2021, with companies like Conservas y Congelado Ya Está, S.A. leading the way. These factors, combined with rising global demand for cassava in food, feed, and industrial applications, supported the market's overall growth trajectory.

Production cassava in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cassava, 2017-2020

World map of production of cassava, 2017-2020

Cassava production in Central America grew for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 425.8 thousand tons of cassava, marking a 1.1% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually declined by 7.9%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 2.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 416.1 thousand tons, when output fell by 10.0%—the largest drop in this timeframe. In contrast, 2019 saw the biggest increase, with production rising by 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of cassava production in Central America was 314.2 million US dollars, reflecting a 14.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value declined by 17.9%, averaging an annual reduction of 6.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 280.4 million US dollars, when it dropped by 26.7%—the largest decline in this period. On the upside, 2019 experienced the biggest increase, with production value rising by 30.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports cassava from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Central America exported 130.0 thousand tons of cassava, an 11.8% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 17.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 135.8 thousand tons, which saw a 22.8% increase—the largest rise in this timeframe. However, exports declined by 14.4% in 2019, marking the biggest drop during these years.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, the Netherlands, and Spain were the three main markets for cassava exports from Central America, together accounting for 82.2% of total export volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, cassava exports from Central America amounted to 95.2 million US dollars, a 5.4% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 5.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 90.3 million US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 100.7 million US dollars, when exports rose by 11.5%—the largest increase in this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017-2020, the United States, the Netherlands, and Spain formed the core of cassava exports from Central America in value terms. The United States accounted for 64.8% of export value, the Netherlands for 10.5%, and Spain for 7.1%, together making up 82.4% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Imports cassava to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

The cassava import market in Central America showed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. Imports peaked in 2018 at 1.4 thousand tons, with a 23.2% increase that year—the largest rise in the period. However, by 2020, imports had fallen to their lowest point at 0.4 thousand tons, down by 73.6% from 2019. Overall, imports fluctuated significantly, with a 3.9-fold difference between the high in 2018 and the low in 2020.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Ecuador was the leading source for cassava imports into Central America, accounting for 0.6% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Cassava imports into Central America declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, totaling 1.2 million US dollars—a 21.6% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 12.5%, with an average annual decline of 4.3%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 1.7 million US dollars, when it increased by 27.2%—the largest rise in this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, Ecuador was the primary supplier of cassava to Central America, consistently accounting for 1.4% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020