Market research

Cassava starch market in Latin America and the Caribbean

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Latin America and the Caribbean" region includes following countries:

Argentina

Bolivia

Bouvet Island

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

French Guiana

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Antigua and Barbuda

the Bahamas

Barbados

British Virgin Islands

Cayman Islands

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Haiti

Jamaica

Martinique

Montserrat

Curacao

Aruba

Saint Maarten (Dutch part)

Bonaire

Puerto Rico

Saint-Barthélemy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Anguilla

Saint Lucia

Saint-Martin (French Part)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

United States Virgin Islands

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the cassava starch market in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced significant fluctuations. The market volume started at 109.5 thousand tons in 2018, supported by the expansion of cassava production in key countries like Brazil and Colombia. In 2019, the market volume fell to 85.6 thousand tons, while Colombian company Poltec S.A.S. pioneered innovations in modified starches, increasing its processing capacity. Growing demand for cassava starch in food products and artificial sweeteners helped stabilize the market at 86.3 thousand tons in 2020. In 2021, despite reports of increased cassava consumption in Colombia and record high prices for fresh roots, the market volume declined to 80.7 thousand tons.

Beginning in 2022, the market entered a phase of rapid growth. The market volume rose to 97.8 thousand tons in 2022 and then surged to 147.0 thousand tons in 2023. This expansion was driven by sustained growth in global and regional demand for cassava starch in food, feed, and industrial applications. Favorable climatic conditions in tropical producing regions supported stable production, and increased investments in processing plants close to raw material sources reduced costs and improved availability.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Latin America and the Caribbean
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cassava starch in Latin America and the Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cassava starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cassava starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In Latin America and the Caribbean, cassava starch production reached 98 091 tons in 2020, representing a 3.5% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 10.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 3.3%. The most significant production decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 1.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 7.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.7%	(1.2%)	3.5%	3.3%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The value of cassava starch production in Latin America and the Caribbean was 80 171 thousand US dollars in 2020, showing a modest increase of 2.2% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value rose by 16.8%, averaging an annual growth rate of 5.3%. The highest value was achieved in 2018 at 88 277 thousand US dollars. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019 with an 11.1% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 28.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	28.6%	(11.1%)	2.2%	5.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cassava starch from Latin America and the Caribbean

Exports in kind, t

Cassava starch exports from Latin America and the Caribbean grew for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export volumes reached 34 015 tons, reflecting a significant 17.1% increase compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports expanded by 28.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 8.7%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 22 448 tons, which represented a 15.3% decline from the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 29.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(15.3%)	29.4%	17.1%	8.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the export structure for cassava starch in kind was highly diversified. The United States accounted for 9.7% of exports, Spain for 1.4%, and Portugal for 1.3%, together making up only 12.4% of total flows. The remaining 87.6% was distributed among numerous smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Cassava starch exports from Latin America and the Caribbean increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, export value amounted to 27 801 thousand US dollars, up 15.6% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value grew by 36.1%, with an average annual rate of 10.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.1%	16.4%	15.6%	10.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Data from 2017 to 2020 show that cassava starch exports in value terms from Latin America and the Caribbean were not concentrated on a few key destinations. The United States represented 15.6% of export value, Portugal 2.7%, and Spain 2.2%, collectively accounting for just 20.4% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cassava starch to Latin America and the Caribbean

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year decline, cassava starch imports into Latin America and the Caribbean rebounded. In 2020, imports totaled 22 219 tons, marking an 11.8% increase year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 55.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -23.9%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 19 875 tons, which saw a sharp decline of 44.9% from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(28.4%)	(44.9%)	11.8%	(23.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand and Vietnam remained the primary suppliers of cassava starch to Latin America and the Caribbean, together accounting for 32.0% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of decrease, cassava starch imports into Latin America and the Caribbean saw a slight recovery. In 2020, imports stood at 24 327 thousand US dollars, up 1.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 21.1%, with an average annual decline of 7.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 24 064 thousand US dollars, which experienced a 17.3% drop from the year before.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.6%)	(17.3%)	1.1%	(7.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand and Vietnam led as the top suppliers of cassava starch to Latin America and the Caribbean, jointly representing 29.9% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Latin America and the Caribbean in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io