Market research

Maize starch market in Nigeria

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

The maize starch market in Nigeria expanded from 254.3 thousand tons in 2018 to a peak of 338.6 thousand tons in 2020. This growth was underpinned by persistent raw maize shortages and high demand, which were exacerbated by the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) restrictions on maize import financing in 2019 aimed at protecting local farmers. In 2020, the CBN's emergency approval for maize imports helped bridge the supply gap, while the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted production and distribution chains, contributing to volatile market conditions and increased import volumes of starch.

Market volume subsequently contracted, falling to 244.4 thousand tons by 2023. This decline coincided with ongoing supply challenges for maize, including insecurity, extreme weather, and pest outbreaks such as armyworm, which elevated raw material costs and constrained starch production. Major feed producers suspending maize purchases in 2022 further highlighted the supply tightness, though starch output showed modest resilience before decreasing in 2023 amid heightened prices and artificial scarcity from hoarding.

In 2024, imports of maize starch rose to 71.9 thousand tons, supported by government measures to alleviate shortages. These included a duty-free window for maize imports until December 2024 and strict enforcement of the Export (Prohibition) Act to curb food smuggling, ensuring greater domestic availability of raw materials and processed starch despite projected declines in national maize production due to agro-climatic and security pressures.

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 Nigeria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria 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, 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K 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 Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Nigeria was among the world's leading producers of maize starch from 2017 to 2020, ranking 20th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of maize starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nigeria's maize starch production increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 237.8 thousand tons of maize starch, which is 8.9% higher than in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 13.6%, representing an average annual growth rate of 4.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.7%	1.5%	8.9%	4.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize starch from Nigeria

Exports in kind, K t

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the geographical pattern of Nigeria's maize starch exports in kind was primarily shaped by Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal, which together accounted for 100.0% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, two markets—Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal—dominated Nigeria's maize starch exports in value terms, jointly representing 100.0% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize starch to Nigeria

Imports in kind, K t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. The lowest point was recorded in 2018, with imports at 39.3 thousand tons, marking a 35.9% decline. In 2019, imports surged by 91.1%, reaching a peak of 100.8 thousand tons in 2020, which was 34.2% higher than in 2019. Overall, imports varied by a factor of 2.6 between the trough in 2018 and the peak in 2020.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(35.9%)	91.1%	34.2%	18.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey (51.3% of imports in kind), China (18.0%), and India (8.6%) formed the key group of partners for Nigeria's maize starch imports in kind, jointly accounting for 77.9% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 17 622 thousand US dollars, representing a 41.2% decline. In 2019, imports increased by 83.6%, peaking in 2020 at 56 248 thousand US dollars, which was 73.8% higher than in 2019. Overall, imports varied by a factor of 3.2 between the trough in 2018 and the peak in 2020.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(41.2%)	83.6%	73.8%	23.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Turkey (47.8% of imports in value terms), China (22.2%), and India (9.0%) were the principal destinations for Nigeria's maize starch imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 79.0% 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 Nigeria in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io