Market research

Starches market in Western Africa

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

"Western Africa" region includes following countries:

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

Earlier Report Observations

The starch market in Western Africa expanded strongly from 2018 to 2021, with volume rising from 792 thousand tons to 1 493 thousand tons. This growth was particularly sharp in 2021, when the market increased by over 500 thousand tons.

Following the surge, the market volume stabilized near 1 500 thousand tons, reaching 1 505 thousand tons in 2022 and then 1 494 thousand tons in 2023. The period marked a transition from rapid expansion to a steady level of consumption.

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 Western Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Western Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cabo Verde in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, K 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 Cabo Verde in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Cabo Verde by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K 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 Western Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of starches, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of starches, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Western Africa's starch production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 835.5 K t of starches, marking a 5.6% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 36.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.3%	8.6%	5.6%	11.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports starches from Western Africa

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 0.5 K t, while the peak occurred in 2018 at 7.1 K t, representing a 14.5-fold difference. In 2020, starch exports from Western Africa reached 2.0 K t, showing a significant year-on-year increase of 298.8%. The largest decline was in 2019, with a drop of 93.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	98.8%	(93.1%)	298.8%	(18.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Western Africa's starch exports in kind were distributed across a diverse range of partners. Morocco accounted for 15.2% of exports, Australia for 3.4%, and China for 3.2%, together making up just 21.9% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was volatile during these years. The lowest export value was in 2019 at 531 K $ US, while the peak was in 2017, showing a threefold fluctuation. In 2020, Western Africa's starch export value amounted to 1 360 K $ US, a sharp rise of 156.3% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 59.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.2%)	(59.6%)	156.3%	(5.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Data from 2017 to 2020 indicate that Western Africa's starch exports in value terms were not heavily concentrated. Morocco represented 16.6% of exports, the United States 8.4%, and China 8.0%, jointly accounting for only 33.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports starches to Western Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Foreign starch supplies to Western Africa increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported approximately 142.6 K t of starches, reflecting a sharp gain of 33.4% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 57.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.4%. The lowest import volume was in 2018 at 70.2 K t, with the largest decline that year at 22.3%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 52.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(22.3%)	52.3%	33.4%	16.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—Turkey, China, and India—together absorbed 65.2% of total starch imports in kind to Western Africa.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed volatility over the observed period. The lowest import value was in 2018 at 33 049 K $ US, while the highest was in 2020, reflecting a 2.5-fold gap. In 2020, cross-border shipments of starches to Western Africa came to 82 890 K $ US, constituting a sharp increase of 76.5% compared with 2019. The largest decline was in 2018, with a drop of 25.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(25.2%)	42.1%	76.5%	23.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey, China, and India remained the leading destinations in the import structure by value. Turkey accounted for 43.9% of imports, China for 19.9%, and India for 6.9%, with a combined share of 70.7% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io