Market research

Starches market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Kenyan starches market reached its peak volume of 67 258 tons in 2018, a period that aligned with the launch of the Third Medium-Term Plan under Kenya Vision 2030. This national industrialization strategy likely supported demand for industrial starches as it promoted sectoral transformation. The market then experienced a gradual, two-year contraction, stabilizing around 65 353 tons by 2020.

After a modest recovery to 66 750 tons in 2021, the market volume dropped sharply by 13.6% to 57 643 tons in 2022. This significant decline coincided with a year marked by general elections and widespread cost-of-living protests, which created broader economic headwinds that affected consumption and production.

A rebound followed in 2023, with the market growing 6.2% to 61 211 tons, indicating the sector's capacity for recovery despite the preceding volatility.

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 Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
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 starches in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of starches, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of starches, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, Kenya's starch production reached its lowest point at 43 644 tonnes, with a 2.0% decline that year. Production then increased slightly by 0.8% year-over-year to 44 005 tonnes in 2020.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.0%)	(2.0%)	0.8%	(0.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports starches from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. In 2019, starch exports from Kenya peaked at 606 tonnes, representing a substantial 296.3% increase. However, exports plummeted by 85.1% in 2020 to just 91 tonnes, marking the lowest point with a 6.7-fold difference between the peak and trough.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(59.7%)	296.3%	(85.1%)	(38.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Uganda dominated Kenya's starch exports in volume, accounting for 79.1% of total flows. Pakistan led with 37.1%, followed by Tanzania at 25.4%, and Uganda at 16.6%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The data shows irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. In 2019, starch export values from Kenya reached a high of 286 thousand US dollars, with a 147.3% increase. By 2020, values dropped sharply by 65.2% year-over-year to 100 thousand US dollars, the low point, resulting in a 2.9-fold fluctuation between the two years.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(47.5%)	147.3%	(65.2%)	(23.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Tanzania, Pakistan, and Uganda were the primary markets for Kenya's starch exports by value, collectively representing 71.8% of total flows. Tanzania accounted for 24.4%, Pakistan for 24.0%, and Uganda for 23.4%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports starches to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Starch imports into Kenya declined for the second consecutive year. In 2018, imports peaked at 22 897 tonnes, with a 3.5% increase that year. By 2020, imports fell to 21 439 tonnes, down 5.5% from the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 3.1%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 1.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.5%	(0.9%)	(5.5%)	(1.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan, India, and Egypt were the main sources of starch imports into Kenya by volume, jointly accounting for 92.4% of total flows. Pakistan contributed 34.0%, India 32.8%, and Egypt 25.6%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year increase, starch import values into Kenya declined. In 2019, imports reached a maximum of 9 702 thousand US dollars, with a 5.4% rise that year. By 2020, imports dropped to 9 095 thousand US dollars, a reduction of 6.3% year-over-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.3%	5.4%	(6.3%)	1.0%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Pakistan, India, and Egypt consistently served as the main destinations for starch imports into Kenya by value, together making up 90.2% of total flows. Pakistan accounted for 33.5%, India for 31.1%, and Egypt for 25.5%.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io