Starch-manufacture residues market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

The market for starch-manufacture residues in Spain stood at 328.6 thousand tons in 2018. It grew by 12% to 367.7 thousand tons in 2019, a rise linked to increased industrial waste generation across sectors like metallurgy and food processing, driven by broader industrialization and population growth.

After contracting to 334.0 thousand tons in 2020, the market rebounded to 360.0 thousand tons in 2021. This recovery was fueled by European Union initiatives, particularly Horizon 2020 funding, which promoted the valorization of food industry waste into biopolymers, lifting demand for starch-based residues. Modest growth continued to 366.0 thousand tons in 2022, supported by Spain's Waste Law 7/2022 that established clearer regulations for industrial waste management, including agro-food residues.

A sustained decline followed, with the market falling to 333.8 thousand tons in 2023 and 320.9 thousand tons in 2024. This shift was primarily caused by the rapid adoption of starch recovery systems in the food industry. By 2023, 42% of manufacturers had implemented such systems for water recycling and starch reprocessing, significantly reducing the volume of wastewater and reclaiming starch that would otherwise enter the residue stream. The trend intensified in 2024, with 65% of potato and cassava processing facilities integrating recovery technologies, further diminishing the available volume of starch-manufacture residues.

Production starch-manufacture residues in Spain

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, Spain's output of starch-manufacture residues was valued at 104.2 million US dollars, marking a 6.0% increase from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 9.4%, which translates to an annualized rate of 3.0%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 1.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Spain in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Spain ranked as the 7th largest producer of starch-manufacture residues from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of starch-manufacture residues, 2017-2020

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

Spain's production volume of starch-manufacture residues increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 339.3 thousand tonnes, showing a modest rise of 2.6% compared to the previous year. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 324.3 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 3.9%.

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

Exports starch-manufacture residues from Spain

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Spain exported 27 911 tonnes of starch-manufacture residues, representing a strong increase of 14.5% from 2019. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 19%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.8%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 24 374 tonnes, while the peak was in 2018 at 36 326 tonnes. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 32.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France was the dominant export partner for Spain in terms of starch-manufacture residues by volume, accounting for 73.1% of total exports. Other markets made up the remainder, forming a long tail.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

After two years of decline, Spain's exports of starch-manufacture residues in value terms rebounded. In 2020, exports reached 20 744 thousand US dollars, up by 10.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 span, exports decreased by 18.5%, equating to an annualized rate of -6.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 18 796 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 23.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, France consistently represented 71.2% of Spain's total export value for starch-manufacture residues, highlighting a high concentration on this market. The remaining share was distributed among other countries.

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

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

Imports starch-manufacture residues to Spain

Imports in kind, t

Following two years of growth, Spain's import volume of starch-manufacture residues declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 22 596 tonnes, a sharp decrease of 63.3% year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 41.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -16.2%. The highest import volume was in 2019 at 61 517 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 51.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for Spain's imports of starch-manufacture residues by volume were Portugal (39.9%), Ukraine (15.4%), and France (12.1%). Together, these three countries accounted for 67.3% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Spain's imports of starch-manufacture residues in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports were recorded at 15 140 thousand US dollars, showing a steep fall of 25.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 26%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.6%. The peak value was in 2018 at 23 461 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 14.6%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, the key sources for Spain's imports of starch-manufacture residues in value terms were Portugal (43.5%), the Netherlands (14.2%), and France (12.5%). Collectively, these three countries made up 70.1% of total import flows.

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

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