Market research

Maize starch market in Eswatini

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The maize starch market in Eswatini grew from 13 458 t in 2018 to 16 514 t in 2023. Initial expansion was facilitated by regulatory changes, notably the Biosafety Act of 2012, which permitted the importation of GMO maize, thereby improving the supply of raw material for starch production. This was crucial as domestic maize yields were frequently poor due to drought, increasing reliance on imported grain to sustain and grow starch output. The state-owned National Maize Corporation consistently influenced market conditions through its purchasing, storage, and pricing activities.

Market growth continued despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused economic shocks in 2020 but did not significantly curb overall demand. A key development was the expansion of commercial maize farming under programs like LUSIP II from 2022, which represented the entry of new players and increased cultivated area, enhancing domestic maize availability for processing. Government and parastatal support for climate-smart agriculture and good practices helped mitigate some weather-related production declines.

Regional factors also played a role, particularly in 2023 when export restrictions in neighboring countries like Zambia constrained maize supplies, affecting prices and availability in Eswatini. Despite erratic rainfall keeping domestic maize production below average, the maize starch market volume stabilized above 16 500 t in 2023, supported by strategic imports and ongoing agricultural development initiatives aimed at improving food security and market resilience.

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 Eswatini
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, 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, 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 Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Eswatini 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 Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Eswatini 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 Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini 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 Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Eswatini 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 Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Eswatini 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 Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Eswatini 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 Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Eswatini 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 Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Eswatini 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 Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini 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 Eswatini in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Eswatini 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 Eswatini in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Eswatini 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 Eswatini, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Eswatini 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 maize starch in Eswatini

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Eswatini's maize starch production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 14 078 tonnes of maize starch, marking a 3.7% year-on-year increase. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 12.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.6%	2.8%	3.7%	4.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize starch from Eswatini

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Eswatini's maize starch exports amounted to 5.0 tonnes, showing a significant decrease of 16.7% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(16.7%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa was the overwhelmingly dominant buyer of maize starch from Eswatini, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of maize starch shipments from Eswatini abroad stood at 3.2 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp decline of 70.2% year-on-year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eswatini in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(70.2%)	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, virtually all maize starch exports from Eswatini in value terms were linked to South Africa, which accounted for 100.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize starch to Eswatini

Imports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 245.4 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 685.3 tonnes, representing a 2.8-fold difference. In 2020, imports increased dramatically by 28.8% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, falling by 40.6%, while the largest increase was in 2019, rising by 116.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(40.6%)	116.7%	28.8%	18.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the geographical pattern of maize starch imports in volume revealed a strong dependence on South Africa, which absorbed 100.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during this timeframe. Imports hit a low in 2018 at 157.3 thousand US dollars and a high in 2020 at 461.5 thousand US dollars, varying by 2.9 times. In 2020, imports saw a substantial increase of 15.9% year-on-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, dropping by 42.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, surging by 153.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eswatini in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(42.5%)	153.2%	15.9%	19.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, imports of maize starch to Eswatini in value terms were almost entirely concentrated in South Africa, with its share reaching 100.0%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io