Maize starch market in Morocco

Earlier Report Observations

The maize starch market in Morocco expanded from 15,749 t in 2018 to 24,690 t in 2022, before contracting to 23,453 t in 2023. This period saw a significant increase in import volumes, which rose from 3,674 t to 10,713 t over the same five years, while domestic production fluctuated between 15,000 t and 17,000 t.

In 2024, the market context was shaped by Morocco's structural dependence on cereal imports, with corn imports growing by 12% that year. The government has proposed reducing customs duties on modified maize starch from 30% to 17.5% in the 2025 finance bill, aiming to lower costs for local dairy processors and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic industry.

Production maize starch in Morocco

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize starch, 2017-2020

Morocco's maize starch production has increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 17 153 tonnes of maize starch, marking a 3.9% year-on-year increase. Production grew by 15.1% between 2017 and 2020, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 4.8%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 13 142 tonnes, when it declined by 11.8%. However, production rebounded strongly in 2019 with a 25.6% increase.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Maize starch production in Morocco has risen for the second year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 7 984 thousand US dollars, reflecting a moderate 9.8% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value increased by 30.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 5 965 thousand US dollars, when it fell by 2.6%. This was followed by a significant recovery in 2019 with a 21.9% increase.

Annual dynamics of production in Morocco in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports maize starch from Morocco

Exports in kind, t

Morocco exported 1 406 tonnes of maize starch in 2020, which represents a substantial 62.2% increase year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 47.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.8%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 867 tonnes, when it declined by 18.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Tunisia was the primary and nearly exclusive market for Morocco's maize starch exports in volume terms, accounting for 98.6% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 1.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the value of maize starch exports from Morocco totaled 654 thousand US dollars, up by 71.4% from the previous year. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 382 thousand US dollars, when it declined by 21.2%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Tunisia played a dominant role in Morocco's maize starch exports in value terms, consistently accounting for 97.7% of total flows.

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

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

Imports maize starch to Morocco

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 2.3-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Morocco imported 8 480 tonnes of maize starch, marking a 12.1% increase compared to the previous year. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 3 674 tonnes, when it declined by 19.8%. This was followed by a sharp increase in 2019 of 105.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria (26.3% of imports in volume terms), Germany (25.6% of imports in volume terms), and Spain (18.6% of imports in volume terms) were the leading sources in Morocco's import structure, together accounting for 70.6% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Import values reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 2.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Morocco's maize starch import value amounted to 3 748 thousand US dollars, up by 11.6% year-on-year. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 1 667 thousand US dollars, when it declined by 13.2%. This was followed by a significant increase in 2019 of 101.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria (24.9% of imports in value terms), Germany (24.3% of imports in value terms), and Spain (18.5% of imports in value terms) remained the principal suppliers of maize starch to Morocco, jointly accounting for 67.8% of total imports in value terms.

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

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