Market research

Maize starch market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, the maize starch market volume in Kenya contracted from 35.8 thousand tons to 32.2 thousand tons, with a temporary recovery in 2021. Agricultural production faced climatic challenges and global market dynamics in 2022, constraining raw material availability for starch manufacturing.

The market rebounded to 36.1 thousand tons in 2023, driven by a 38.8% surge in maize production. Improved rainfall and government fertilizer subsidies enhanced maize yields, directly boosting the supply of raw material for starch production.

In 2024, key influencing factors included continued government-subsidized fertilizer programs and adequate rainfall supporting maize harvests, though May floods disrupted supply. Competition between the National Cereals and Produce Board and private millers affected maize prices, while duty-free maize import permissions aimed to stabilize raw material availability for related industries.

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 Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya 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 Kenya

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

Kenya's maize starch production has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 11 760 tonnes of maize starch, which represents an 8.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 7.3%, with an average annual decline of 2.5%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 13 268 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 4.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.6%	(3.7%)	(8.0%)	(2.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize starch from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Import levels fluctuated significantly, with a 6.9-fold difference between the low in 2020 and the high in 2019. In 2020, Kenya's maize starch exports amounted to 88 tonnes, marking a sharp year-on-year decline of 85.4%. The peak export volume was recorded in 2019 at 601 tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 350.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(63.7%)	350.9%	(85.4%)	(38.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Pakistan, Tanzania, and Uganda—collectively accounted for 79.9% of Kenya's total maize starch exports in volume terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the period. Volumes reached their highest point in 2019 and their lowest in 2018, with a 3.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kenya exported 92 thousand US dollars worth of maize starch, down by 67.3% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 86 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2019 at 281 thousand US dollars. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019, at 227.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(59.7%)	227.1%	(67.3%)	(24.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Tanzania (26.2% of exports in value terms), Pakistan (25.8%), and Uganda (20.9%) were the largest buyers of maize starch from Kenya, together making up 73.0% of total exports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize starch to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Kenya's maize starch imports have decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 20 937 tonnes, reflecting a gradual decline of 5.4% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 4.6%, equivalent to an average annual decrease of 1.6%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 22 632 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 3.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.1%	(2.2%)	(5.4%)	(1.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Pakistan (34.6% of imports in volume terms), India (33.1%), and Egypt (26.1%) were the main suppliers of maize starch to Kenya, jointly accounting for 93.7% of total imports in volume terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Kenya's imported maize starch volumes declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 8 701 thousand US dollars, down by 6.4% compared to 2019. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 9 300 thousand US dollars, while the largest annual increase occurred in 2018 at 3.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.4%	3.3%	(6.4%)	(0.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over the period 2017–2020, Pakistan (34.6% of imports in value terms), India (31.5%), and Egypt (26.3%) emerged as the primary sources for imports in value terms, together representing 92.4% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io