Starches market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The starch market in Southern Asia started at 948 thousand tons in 2018, the same year a new production facility opened in Oman and a corn mill project launched in Saudi Arabia to boost domestic output and reduce import reliance. These developments, combined with industry efforts to expand manufacturing plants, supported a market volume increase to 976 thousand tons in 2019, though it returned to 948 thousand tons in 2020.

Market volume surged by 22% to 1.15 million tons in 2021, then moderated to 1.04 million tons in 2022 before climbing sharply to 1.34 million tons in 2023, a 29% rise from the previous year, reflecting strong market expansion despite annual fluctuations.

Production starches in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of starches, 2017-2020

World map of production of starches, 2017-2020

Southern Asia's starch production volume declined after two consecutive years of growth. In 2020, the region produced 932.1 thousand tons of starches, marking a 5.6% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the broader 2017-2020 period, production actually increased by 23.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.4%. The peak production level was reached in 2019 at 987.7 thousand tons, while the most significant year-over-year increase occurred in 2018 with a 22.1% rise.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Southern Asia's starch production value declined following two years of expansion. In 2020, the output was valued at 385.4 million US dollars, representing a 7.6% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 timeframe, production value grew by 2.9%, translating to an average annual increase of 1.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 417.3 million US dollars, with the largest year-over-year gain occurring in 2018 at 8.9%.

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

Exports starches from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Southern Asia's starch export volume declined after two years of consecutive growth. In 2020, the region exported 37.0 thousand tons of starches, down 22.8% from the previous year. Across the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 57%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.2%. The peak export volume was achieved in 2019 at 47.9 thousand tons, while the most substantial year-over-year increase happened in 2018 with a 55.4% rise.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Southern Asia's starch exports in volume terms were distributed across a diverse range of partner countries. Kenya accounted for 19.6% of exports, the United Arab Emirates for 12.1%, and Iraq for 10.6%. Together, these three countries represented just 42.2% of total export flows, indicating a broad geographical distribution.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Southern Asia's starch export value declined after two consecutive years of increase. In 2020, the region exported starches worth 15 303 thousand US dollars, showing a significant decline of 24.4% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value grew by 30.4%, with an average annual increase of 9.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 20 244 thousand US dollars, while the largest year-over-year gain occurred in 2018 with a 38.6% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the geographical structure of Southern Asia's starch exports in value terms showed high diversification. Kenya accounted for 19.1% of export value, the United Arab Emirates for 10.3%, and Iraq for 9.4%. Combined, these three countries represented only 38.7% of total export flows, with the remaining 61.3% distributed among numerous smaller trading partners.

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

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

Imports starches to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

Southern Asia's starch import volume increased after two consecutive years of decline. In 2020, imports reached 52.8 thousand tons, representing a 45.6% increase from 2019. However, over the broader 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 47.6%, equating to an average annual decline of 19.4%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 36.3 thousand tons, which also saw the largest year-over-year decrease at 45.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Thailand, Denmark, and Turkey were the largest suppliers of starches to Southern Asia in volume terms, though none dominated the market. Thailand accounted for 24.7% of imports, Denmark for 7.2%, and Turkey for 5.4%. Together, these three countries represented 37.3% of total import volume, with the remainder coming from a diverse range of smaller partners.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Southern Asia's starch import value increased after two consecutive years of decrease. In 2020, the region imported approximately 30 671 thousand US dollars worth of starches, which was 2.4% higher than the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 44.4%, translating to an average annual decline of 17.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 29 964 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest year-over-year decrease at 43.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Southern Asia's starch imports in value terms came from a broad portfolio of trading partners. Thailand accounted for 25.7% of import value, Denmark for 11.2%, and Turkey for 4.0%. Together, these three countries represented just 40.9% of total import flows, indicating significant diversification across multiple suppliers.

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

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