Market research

Maize starch market in Portugal

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Portugal's maize starch market volume started at 45 881 t in 2018, with the market heavily reliant on imports due to a structural deficit in domestic corn production. The sole major industrial starch producer, COPAM, utilized efficient, zero-waste processing. Market volume grew to 48 810 t in 2019, supported by investments in irrigation infrastructure and advances in direct seeding techniques for corn cultivation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains in 2020, leading to a contraction in imports and a drop in market volume to 41 870 t.

Post-pandemic recovery and the adoption of precision farming to control costs contributed to a market rebound to 48 679 t in 2021. The outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 drastically altered supply dynamics, as 41% of Portugal's corn imports had originated from Ukraine. This triggered a search for alternatives, notably increased imports from Brazil, and helped drive a sharp market expansion to 62 878 t. Concurrently, legislative measures, including payments for grain corn and silage, and the establishment of the InovMilho national competence center aimed to stimulate domestic production and innovation.

In 2023, the maize starch market volume corrected sharply to 34 268 t, reflecting a market adjustment following the previous year's surge and the ongoing influence of geopolitical tensions on import flows.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Portugal
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.3.1.3. 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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, 2018-2025
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 Portugal

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of maize starch, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize starch, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Portugal's maize starch production rebounded in 2021 after two years of decline. The country produced 21.7 K t of maize starch, marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 3.9%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 1.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2020 at 20.2 K t, when output fell by 3.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.3%)	(3.0%)	7.4%	1.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize starch from Portugal

Exports in kind, t

Maize starch exports from Portugal declined for the second consecutive year in 2021. Export volumes reached 18 796 t, representing a significant decrease of 13.2% compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports dropped by 10.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.6%. The peak export volume was in 2019 at 23 132 t, when exports surged by 10.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.4%	(6.4%)	(13.2%)	(3.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, nearly all of Portugal's maize starch exports in volume terms went to Spain, which accounted for 97.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2021, the value of maize starch exports from Portugal rose to 8 231 K $ US, up 4.9% from 2020. However, over the 2018-2021 period, export value decreased by 2.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -0.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 7 849 K $ US, when exports fell by 12.2%. In contrast, the highest value was in 2019 at 8 935 K $ US, with a 6.2% increase that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.2%	(12.2%)	4.9%	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Spain was the dominant partner for Portugal's maize starch exports in value terms, representing 95.9% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize starch to Portugal

Imports in kind, t

Portugal imported 45 731 t of maize starch in 2021, a 5.7% increase from the previous year. The lowest import volume was in 2020 at 43 274 t, when imports dropped by 15.3%. The highest volume was in 2019 at 51 082 t, with an 11.3% increase that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.3%	(15.3%)	5.7%	(0.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, Spain was the primary source for Portugal's maize starch imports in volume terms, supplying 95.8% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2021, the value of maize starch imports into Portugal surged to 24 682 K $ US, a substantial 26.8% increase from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, import value grew by 13.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 19 468 K $ US, when imports declined by 17.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US