Market research

Potato starch market in Eastern Africa, 2026

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the potato starch market volume in Eastern Africa increased from 50 thousand tons to 58 thousand tons, with a significant jump in 2020. This growth was supported by government initiatives such as a 12% rise in potato production in Uganda due to improved agricultural practices and deployment of suitable varieties, along with subsidies for agricultural inputs and price regulation in Rwanda to protect farmers and stabilize the market.

The expansion continued from 2021 to 2023, reaching 67 thousand tons by 2023. Rwanda focused on enhancing potato seed quality through research partnerships, while Kenya promoted climate-smart agriculture and irrigation to boost yields. Additionally, efforts to add value by processing potatoes into starch and other products were emphasized in Kenya, and Tanzania increased investments in agro-processing and fertilizer subsidies, supporting raw material production.

In 2024, Rwanda introduced new high-yield potato seed varieties and signed a multi-million dollar deal with a Nigerian investor to develop the potato industry, indicating ongoing sector support.

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 Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, t
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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 potato starch in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of potato starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of potato starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

After a two-year decline, potato starch production in Eastern Africa rebounded. In 2020, the region produced 58 298 tonnes of potato starch, marking a significant 17.8% increase compared to 2019. Production reached its lowest point in 2019 at 49 498 tonnes. The largest annual decline occurred in 2018, when production fell by 7.4%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 7.9%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.4%)	(1.1%)	17.8%	2.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports potato starch from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, potato starch exports from Eastern Africa remained stable at 5.2 tonnes, showing no change from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 31.2%, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 9.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	9.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Oman were the top contributors to Eastern Africa's potato starch exports by volume. Switzerland accounted for 21.9% of exports, the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 16.6%, and Oman for 0.6%. Together, these three countries represented 39.0% 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 Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of potato starch exports from Eastern Africa was 4.4 thousand US dollars, remaining nearly unchanged from the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value increased by 27.6%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 8.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	8.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Australia were the primary buyers of potato starch from Eastern Africa in value terms. Switzerland accounted for 30.9% of export value, the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 18.8%, and Australia for 0.9%. Collectively, these three countries made up 50.6% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports potato starch to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

The import market for potato starch in Eastern Africa showed volatility during the observed period. Imports peaked in 2019 at 284.6 tonnes and then dropped sharply to 42.6 tonnes in 2020, representing an 85.0% year-over-year decline. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019, when imports rose by 150.0%. Overall, imports in 2020 were 6.7 times lower than the peak in 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.2%)	150.0%	(85.0%)	(29.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa, the Netherlands, and India were the leading sources of potato starch imports into Eastern Africa by volume. South Africa accounted for 62.7% of imports, the Netherlands for 10.7%, and India for 8.1%. Together, these three countries represented 81.6% 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 Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of potato starch imports into Eastern Africa experienced noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their highest value in 2019 at 280.1 thousand US dollars and their lowest in 2017, with a 2.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, import value was recorded at 96.5 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp 65.5% decline compared to 2019. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019, when import value rose by 143.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.0%	143.0%	(65.5%)	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, South Africa, the Netherlands, and China were the main markets for potato starch imports into Eastern Africa in value terms. South Africa accounted for 54.3% of import value, the Netherlands for 14.6%, and China for 5.5%. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 74.5% 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 Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io