Starch-manufacture residues market in Western Europe

Earlier Report Observations

The starch-manufacture residues market in Western Europe contracted sharply in 2019, with volume falling to 3 410 thousand tons from 4 878 thousand tons the previous year. This decline was driven by a notable increase in exports to other European markets like Spain and the Netherlands, which reduced domestic availability. The period also saw a growing emphasis on sustainability and waste reduction, leading to wider adoption of starch recovery systems in food processing, which optimized resource use but coincided with lower production volumes.

Market volume partially recovered to 3 627 thousand tons in 2020, supported by the development and launch of new modified starch products with clean labels and improved functionality, which stimulated demand. However, trade restrictions and volatility in agricultural raw material prices, particularly for corn, created cost pressures for producers. In subsequent years, demand for specific segments such as pregelatinized starch used in baby food and baked goods provided some stability, while increased attention to labeling regulations and sustainability pushed companies toward greener production practices.

A significant downturn occurred in 2023, with market volume dropping to 2 878 thousand tons. This was influenced by the opening of over 25 new cassava and tapioca starch processing plants in Southeast Asia, which altered global supply dynamics and trade flows. Concurrently, technological innovations and investments in automation and AI for starch extraction in Europe aimed to enhance production efficiency and sustainability, though these could not offset the broader market contraction.

Production starch-manufacture residues in Western Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of starch-manufacture residues, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Western Europe produced 3,534 thousand tons of starch-manufacture residues, representing a 5.2% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 6.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 4,637 thousand tons, which marked a significant 39.9% increase. However, production experienced its largest decline in 2019, dropping by 27.6%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of starch-manufacture residues output in Western Europe reached $2,447 million, showing a 5.0% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value rose by 7.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.5%. The peak value occurred in 2018 at $3,674 million, reflecting a substantial 61.5% increase. The most significant decrease was observed in 2019, when the value fell by 36.5%.

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

Exports starch-manufacture residues from Western Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Starch-manufacture residues exports from Western Europe grew for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 567 thousand tons—a 4.4% year-over-year increase. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 3.3%, averaging 1.1% growth per year. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 497 thousand tons, which represented a 9.6% decline. In contrast, exports saw their largest increase in 2019, rising by 9.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Western Europe's starch-manufacture residues exports in volume terms were highly diversified across countries. The United Kingdom (2.3% of exports), Czechia (1.4%), and the United States (1.1%) together accounted for just 4.8% of total flows, while numerous smaller markets made up the remaining 95.2%.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Western Europe's starch-manufacture residues exports totaled $392.8 million, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value grew by 4.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at $377.1 million, reflecting a 4.2% decline. The highest value occurred in 2018 at $393.7 million, which saw a 4.4% increase.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Western Europe's starch-manufacture residues exports in value terms were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. The United States (11.1% of exports), the United Kingdom (5.9%), and Italy (3.3%) together accounted for only 20.3% of total flows.

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

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

Imports starch-manufacture residues to Western Europe

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, starch-manufacture residues imports into Western Europe rebounded in 2020, reaching 594 thousand tons—an 11.1% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 22.5%, with an average annual decline of 8.1%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 594 thousand tons, which marked a 19.5% decrease.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Western Europe's starch-manufacture residues imports in volume terms relied on a diverse set of partner countries. Poland (23.3% of imports), Hungary (3.1%), and China (2.7%) together accounted for just 29.1% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Western Europe imported $322.3 million worth of starch-manufacture residues, representing a 12.7% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value grew by 12.4%, averaging 4.0% annual growth. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at $286.1 million, which saw a 6.5% decline.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Western Europe's starch-manufacture residues imports in value terms were spread across many countries. China (8.7% of imports), Poland (6.4%), and Spain (6.3%) together accounted for only 21.4% of total flows.

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

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