Market research

Potato starch market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Sub-Saharan Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

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

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, drought reduced potato yields to 36.5 t/ha, negatively impacting potato starch production in the region and contributing to a slight market volume decrease. The market was characterized by the near-monopoly of Ingrain, which held an 89% share, limiting competition and investment in new equipment and research.

Market volume recovered and expanded significantly by 2021, reaching 76 thousand tons. This growth was supported by the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which facilitated export opportunities, and improved potato yields of 42.4 t/ha in 2022, enhancing raw material availability for starch production.

In 2023, record potato plantings in European countries like the Netherlands and Belgium increased global supply, putting downward pressure on prices and reducing potato starch imports into South Africa. This contributed to a decline in total market volume to 71 thousand tons, while the presence of suppliers like Ingreto indicated continued import reliance to meet local demand.

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 Sub-Saharan Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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 Sub-Saharan 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

Potato starch production in Sub-Saharan Africa rebounded after a two-year decline. In 2019, production hit its lowest point at 49 498 tonnes, but by 2020 it had increased to 58 298 tonnes, marking a 17.8% year-over-year rise. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 7.4% drop. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 7.9%, averaging an annualized growth rate of 2.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sub-Saharan 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 Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Potato starch export volumes peaked in 2019 at 606 tonnes, then fell sharply to their lowest level in 2020 at just 8 tonnes, representing a dramatic 75-fold difference between the high and low points. This decline in 2020 amounted to a 98.7% year-over-year decrease. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, with a 101.8% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	41.8%	101.8%	(98.7%)	(66.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates were the main buyers of potato starch from Sub-Saharan Africa. The Philippines accounted for 16.3% of exports in kind, Hong Kong for 4.4%, and the United Arab Emirates for 2.9%. Together, these three destinations made up 23.6% of total exports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. The highest export value was observed in 2019 at 408 000 US dollars, while the lowest was in 2020 at 111 000 US dollars, reflecting a 3.7-fold gap. In 2020, exports decreased by 72.7% compared to 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2018, with an 84.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	84.5%	36.6%	(72.7%)	(11.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Data from 2017 to 2020 indicate that exports in value terms of potato starch from Sub-Saharan Africa were not heavily concentrated on a few key destinations. The Philippines accounted for 9.4% of exports in value terms, Morocco for 4.2%, and Hong Kong for 2.4%. Combined, these three countries represented only 16.0% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports potato starch to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

Sub-Saharan Africa's potato starch import volume increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 7 004 tonnes, reflecting a 64.2% year-over-year rise. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 3 911 tonnes, with a slight decline of 0.3% that year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 78.5%, averaging an annualized growth rate of 21.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.3%)	9.0%	64.2%	21.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland accounted for the largest share of imports in kind. Germany contributed 23.9%, the Netherlands 19.4%, and Poland 18.4%. Together, these three countries comprised 61.8% 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 Sub-Saharan Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Potato starch deliveries to Sub-Saharan Africa increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 8 038 000 US dollars, which is 69.0% higher compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports surged by 152.2%, averaging an annualized growth rate of 36.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	16.3%	28.2%	69.0%	36.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland remained the leading destinations in the country structure of imports in value terms. The Netherlands accounted for 24.3%, Germany for 19.8%, and Poland for 12.3%. Combined, these three countries held a 56.3% share 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 Sub-Saharan Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io