Starch-manufacture residues market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The South African starch-manufacture residues market contracted significantly from 407 thousand tons in 2018 to 276.5 thousand tons in 2021, a decline of 32%. Production fell from 245.4 thousand tons to 192.2 thousand tons over this period, while imports also decreased substantially.

Market volume rebounded by 21% to 334.6 thousand tons in 2022, driven by a sharp recovery in production to 259.2 thousand tons. This growth was supported by declining global fertilizer prices, which lowered input costs for starch crop cultivation, and a shift in consumer preference towards locally sourced ingredients that increased demand for domestic starch output. In 2023, the market stabilized at 335.1 thousand tons as production expanded further to 298.8 thousand tons. This was sustained by rising export demand from other African markets, which compensated for weaker domestic sales, and by public-private investments modernizing rail and port logistics to improve export competitiveness.

For 2024, import volumes increased to 72.6 thousand tons while exports fell to 11.3 thousand tons. The sector faced pressures from rising domestic fertilizer prices and intermittent energy supply issues, which affected production costs and processing efficiency. However, a continued focus on agricultural export growth and regional trade performance provided underlying support.

Production starch-manufacture residues in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of starch-manufacture residues, 2017-2020

World map of production of starch-manufacture residues, 2017-2020

Starch-manufacture residues production in Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Africa produced 211.6 K t of starch-manufacture residues, which represents a 13.7% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 14.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%.

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

Exports starch-manufacture residues from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's starch-manufacture residues export volume increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Africa exported 17.8 K t of starch-manufacture residues, marking a 22.0% uptick compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 23%, equating to an annualized rate of 7.2%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 11.5 K t, which saw the largest decline of 20.4%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 26.7% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main markets for Africa's starch-manufacture residues exports in kind were Vietnam, accounting for 64.6% of exports, Bangladesh with 12.4%, and Turkey at 1.2%. Together, these three countries represented 78.2% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited volatility during these years. Exports bottomed in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a two-fold difference between these periods. In 2020, starch-manufacture residues exports from Africa totaled 4.8 M $ US, which is 78.9% higher than the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 16.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the primary destinations for Africa's starch-manufacture residues exports in value terms were Vietnam, with 29.9% of exports, Turkey at 4.4%, and Bangladesh with 4.1%. This group collectively accounted for 38.4% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports starch-manufacture residues to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, starch-manufacture residues deliveries to Africa increased. In 2020, imports reached 162.2 K t, reflecting a 10.2% increase over the past year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 13.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 147.2 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 14.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, starch-manufacture residues shipped to Africa were primarily sourced from the United States, which absorbed 95.1% of total imports in kind.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Starch-manufacture residues imports to Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Africa imported 89.2 M $ US of starch-manufacture residues, constituting a measured reduction of 5.4% relative to the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 16.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%. The highest import value was recorded in 2018 at 115.2 M $ US, which saw the largest increase of 8.4%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with an 18.2% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States remained the overwhelmingly dominant supplier of starch-manufacture residues to Africa, accounting for 95.0% of total imports in value terms.

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

World map of product's imports to Africa in value, 2017-2020