Starches market in Canada

Earlier Report Observations

The Canadian starches market grew from $405 million in 2018 to $1 181 million in 2020. This expansion was initially supported by regulatory updates to food safety and labeling requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Act, which entered into force in 2018, alongside a rise in new packaged food launches that boosted demand for starch ingredients. The market then surged in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted consumption toward packaged foods, increasing the need for starches in food production.

Growth continued but at a slower pace, reaching $1 745 million by 2023. In 2022, sharp increases in food prices driven by global fertilizer volatility and the war in Ukraine elevated the market value, while record-high immigration to Canada that year sustained underlying demand for food and starch-containing products. The market stabilized in 2023 with a modest 2.9% increase.

Production starches in Canada

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Canada ranked as the world's seventh-largest producer of starches.

Top producers of starches, 2017-2020

World map of production of starches, 2017-2020

Canada's starch production volume grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 2,846 thousand tonnes of starches, marking a sharp increase of 181.7% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production rose by 204.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 45.0%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Starch production in Canada continued its upward trend for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 1,160 million US dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of 176.5%. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 238.9%, averaging an annualized rate of 50.2%.

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

Exports starches from Canada

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Canada exported 81,457 tonnes of starches, which was 11.1% lower than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 17.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -6.2%. The largest decline occurred in 2018, at 16.8%, while the biggest increase was recorded in 2019, at 11.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States was the overwhelmingly dominant market for Canada's starch exports in kind, accounting for 97.1% of the total.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Canada's starch exports reached 33,206 thousand US dollars, down 12.8% from the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 8.1%, equating to an annualized decline of 2.8%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 38,062 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 13.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States accounted for nearly all of Canada's starch exports in value terms, with a share of 96.2% of total flows.

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

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

Imports starches to Canada

Imports in kind, t

The market showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 3.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Canada imported 68,281 tonnes of starches, a slight decline of 1.9% compared to 2019. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 69,628 tonnes, and the largest increase occurred in 2018, at 160.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for Canada's starch imports in kind were the United States (65.6% of imports), Thailand (14.2%), and Denmark (5.4%). Together, these three countries made up 85.3% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Canada's starch import volumes grew for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 54,451 thousand US dollars, reflecting a modest uptick of 0.8% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 16.5%, averaging an annualized rate of 5.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 46,419 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 0.7%, while the biggest increase occurred in 2019, at 16.4%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the three largest markets for Canada's starch imports in value terms were the United States, Thailand, and Denmark, which together accounted for 79.4% of total flows.

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

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