Market research

Starches market in Portugal

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Portuguese starches market volume expanded by 8% to 53 444 t in 2019, supported by the growth of retail networks and discount formats which improved product accessibility and consumption. This trend reversed in 2020 when the market contracted by 9% to 48 421 t, primarily due to supply chain disruptions and reduced industrial and consumer activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Market volume recovered strongly in 2021, rising 19% to 57 406 t despite ongoing raw material and logistics challenges linked to the pandemic. A significant surge of 25% followed in 2022, lifting the market to 71 660 t. This growth coincided with the entry of a new player, as Newpal acquired an 84% stake in the leading domestic producer COPAM, introducing new investment and dynamics to the sector.

In 2023, the market experienced a sharp contraction of 39%, falling to 44 025 t. This decline was driven by high inflation and increased production costs, which eroded consumer purchasing power and reduced demand for starch-based food products.

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, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Portugal
  1. 5.1.1. In kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Production in the EU, 2018-2024
  1. 5.2.1. In kind, 2018-2024, K t
  2. 5.2.2. In value, 2018-2024, M $ US
3. 5.3. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.3.1. Global Production by Country in kind
    1. 5.3.1.1. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
    2. 5.3.1.2. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
    3. 5.3.1.3. 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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 Portugal in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  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 Portugal, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Portugal by countries, 2018-2025, $ 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, 2018-2025
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 Portugal

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of starches, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of starches, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Portugal's starch production has increased for the third year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 25 thousand tonnes of starches, marking a measured uptick of 7.8% compared to 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 12%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.6%	2.3%	7.8%	3.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports starches from Portugal

Exports in kind, t

Portugal's starch exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2021, exports totalled 21 264 tonnes, down by 13.4% year-over-year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 12.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 25 765 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.7%	(4.7%)	(13.4%)	(4.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Spain remained the primary market for Portugal's starch exports in kind, accounting for 86.7% of total flows. The rest of the volume was fragmented across numerous other destinations.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2021, Portugal exported 9 430 thousand US dollars worth of starches, which is 3.5% higher than the previous year. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 3.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 9 108 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 12.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 10 439 thousand US dollars, which experienced the largest increase of 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.2%	(12.7%)	3.5%	(1.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Spain accounted for 85.9% of Portugal's total starch exports in value terms. The remaining flows were distributed among a broad group of smaller countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports starches to Portugal

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, Portugal's starch imports reached 54 032 tonnes, up by 7.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 4.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.4%. The minimum volume was recorded in 2020 at 50 103 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 11.9%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 56 858 tonnes, which experienced the largest increase of 9.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.6%	(11.9%)	7.8%	1.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2018 to 2021, Spain dominated the partner structure for Portugal's starch imports in kind, with a share of 87.2% of total flows. Other markets had comparatively modest shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Portugal in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2021, Portugal imported 32 100 thousand US dollars worth of starches, which is 25.4% greater than in 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 18.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.9%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 25 596 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 11.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.5%	(11.9%)	25.4%	5.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Spain remained the main source for starches imported into Portugal, taking 80.0% of total imports in value terms. The remaining volume was distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Portugal in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io