Market research

Starches market in Uruguay

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

The starch market in Uruguay experienced notable shifts from 2018 to 2023. Initially, updated phytosanitary requirements for imported plant products, including starches, began to shape trade flows, supporting gradual domestic production growth. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further influenced supply chains and demand patterns. However, the most pronounced surge occurred in 2022, when the application of MERCOSUR phytosanitary standards significantly boosted local output, pushing market volume to 26 664 tons.

This upward trend reversed in 2023 as a severe drought hampered agricultural production, leading to a drop in starch manufacturing and reducing market volume to 20 945 tons. Throughout the period, increased competition in food sectors and changes in food safety regulations also played a role in market evolution. Into 2024, global commodity price fluctuations and ongoing regulatory adjustments continued to shape the market environment.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Uruguay
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay 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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uruguay 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 Uruguay

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

Uruguay's starch production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 13 400 tons of starch, marking a modest 4.2% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 29.1%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 8.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.0%	20.4%	4.2%	8.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports starches from Uruguay

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend over this period. In 2017, starch shipments from Uruguay abroad reached their lowest point, then peaked in 2019 with a 2.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports totaled 5 tons, representing a sharp 27.9% decline year-over-year. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 8 tons, with the largest increase of 165.1% also occurring that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.8%	165.1%	(27.9%)	24.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Free Zones accounted for 83.0% of Uruguay's total starch exports by volume, while the remainder was distributed among various smaller destinations.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. In 2018, the value of foreign starch supplies from Uruguay hit a low of 6 thousand US dollars, then surged to a peak of 15 thousand US dollars in 2019, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports amounted to 8 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp 46.3% drop from the prior year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 132.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(32.9%)	132.8%	(46.3%)	(5.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the export structure in value terms was heavily concentrated on Free Zones, which made up 78.7% of total flows, with other partners accounting for the rest.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports starches to Uruguay

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Uruguay imported 9 771 tons of starch, reflecting a gradual 4.1% increase from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 3.2%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 1.1%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 9 384 tons, with the largest decline of 3.3% also occurring that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.5%	(3.3%)	4.1%	1.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil—collectively represented 77.3% of Uruguay's total starch imports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Starch imports into Uruguay declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value stood at 4 482 thousand US dollars, down 6.4% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 8.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 4 927 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase of 0.4% also in that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.4%	(2.8%)	(6.4%)	(3.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Argentina (29.5% of import value), Paraguay (21.1%), and Brazil (18.5%) held the largest shares of Uruguay's starch imports by value, together comprising 69.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io