Potato starch market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the potato starch market volume in Eastern Europe declined from 153.6 thousand tons to 125.6 thousand tons. This contraction occurred amid persistent macroeconomic pressures, including high central bank rates and inflation, which squeezed production profitability. At the same time, a strong import substitution trend sharply reduced starch imports, down 38% in 2018 and 27.8% in 2019, restructuring supply sources. Although consumer demand for potato-based semi-finished products grew, these factors collectively constrained overall market expansion.

The market rebounded to 143.2 thousand tons in 2021 and peaked at 192.5 thousand tons in 2022 before contracting to 152.7 thousand tons in 2023. The recovery in 2021 was facilitated by the commissioning of new potato storage facilities, adding 350 thousand tons of capacity, which improved raw material availability for starch manufacturers. Growth in 2022 was driven by expanded use of potato starch in food additives and ready meals, boosting consumption, while investment plans for further storage infrastructure and import substitution by a major domestic producer supported market momentum. However, a record potato harvest in 2023 created a supply surplus, lowering potato prices and reducing the economic incentive for starch processing, leading to the market's decline.

Production potato starch in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of potato starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of potato starch, 2017-2020

Potato starch production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 199.1 thousand tons of potato starch, representing a 1.8% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 21.8%, which translates to an average annual decline of 7.9%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 256.7 thousand tons. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, when production fell by 21.0%, while the largest increase was seen in 2018 with a modest 0.8% growth.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of potato starch production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) also declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 141.6 million US dollars, marking a substantial 21.3% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value dropped by 13%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 4.6%. The peak value was reached in 2018 at 190.1 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 16.7% during this period.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports potato starch from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Potato starch exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) have decreased for the third year running. In 2020, the region exported 121.4 thousand tons of potato starch, which was 2.1% lower than the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 25.5%, representing an average annual decline of 9.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, potato starch exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were distributed across a wide range of markets. South Korea accounted for 13.7% of exports by volume, the United States for 9.3%, and Vietnam for 8.3%. Together, these three countries represented just 31.3% of total export flows, indicating a highly diversified market structure.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The value of potato starch exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 86.4 million US dollars, showing a significant 21.5% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 17.2%, which corresponds to an average annual decline of 6.1%. The highest export value was recorded in 2018 at 118.2 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 13.3% during this period.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, South Korea, the United States, and Vietnam were important buyers of potato starch from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), accounting for 13.4%, 9.7%, and 7.3% of export value respectively. However, their combined share reached only 30.4% of total export value, with the remaining 69.6% distributed among numerous other trading partners.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports potato starch to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Potato starch imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 47.9 thousand tons, down 4.6% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 12.5%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 4.4%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 56.5 thousand tons. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 with an 11.1% drop, while the largest increase was seen in 2018 with 3.2% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, potato starch imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) came from a diverse set of suppliers. Germany accounted for 18.1% of imports by volume, Denmark for 14.5%, and the Netherlands for 8.9%. Together, these three countries represented 41.6% of total import volume, while the remaining 58.4% came from many smaller sources.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

The value of potato starch imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) also declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at 49.7 million US dollars, showing a substantial 13.7% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 3.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.2%. The peak import value was recorded in 2018 at 49.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 14.2% during this period.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, there was no single dominant supplier of potato starch to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). Germany accounted for 22.3% of import value, Denmark for 13.4%, and France for 9.9%. Together, these three countries represented 45.6% of total import value, with the remaining 54.4% distributed among many smaller trading partners, each with modest individual shares.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020