Market research

Tapioca and starch substitutes market in Nigeria

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Nigerian market for tapioca and starch substitutes expanded from 267.8 thousand tons in 2018 to 298.2 thousand tons in 2023, despite a temporary decline in 2020. This growth was initiated by the launch of innovative clean-label starch products, such as Ingredion Incorporated's tapioca-based offering in July 2019, which stimulated new demand in both food and industrial sectors.

After the contraction in 2020, the market recovered steadily from 2021 onward. A significant rise in import volumes, despite higher average import prices in 2021, pointed to strong domestic consumption that domestic production could not fully meet. This import growth was a key contributor to the overall market expansion in the following years.

Underlying the volume growth was a structural shift in consumption patterns toward gluten-free and natural products, which increased tapioca's applications. Concurrently, government and industry investments in modernizing processing infrastructure from 2023 aimed to capitalize on Nigeria's vast cassava production, though limited industrial capacity continued to constrain the share of raw material converted to starch.

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 Nigeria
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Nigeria 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, 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, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria 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 Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Nigeria 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Nigeria 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 Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria 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 Nigeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Nigeria 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 Nigeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Nigeria 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 tapioca and starch substitutes in Nigeria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Nigeria was the world's second-largest producer of tapioca and starch substitutes.

Top producers of tapioca and starch substitutes, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tapioca and starch substitutes, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Nigeria's production of tapioca and starch substitutes grew for two consecutive years before declining. In 2019, output peaked at 284.4 thousand tonnes, representing a 6.2% increase from the previous year. However, by 2020, production had fallen to 259.1 thousand tonnes, marking an 8.9% decrease compared to 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.3%	6.2%	(8.9%)	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tapioca and starch substitutes from Nigeria

Exports in kind, t

In 2019, Nigeria's exports of tapioca and starch substitutes reached 60.4 tonnes, which was a significant 126.7% increase from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	126.7%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands and Ghana were the primary destinations for Nigeria's tapioca and starch substitutes exports, together accounting for 100% of the total volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2019, the value of Nigeria's tapioca and starch substitutes exports surged to 71.5 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic 139.6% rise compared to the prior year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	139.6%	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands and Ghana were the top two export markets for Nigeria's tapioca and starch substitutes in value terms, jointly representing 100% of total exports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tapioca and starch substitutes to Nigeria

Imports in kind, t

Nigeria's imports of tapioca and starch substitutes grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports reached 260.8 tonnes, up 56.1% from the previous year. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 3 375.6%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 226.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	507.6%	266.5%	56.1%	226.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, China was the dominant source for Nigeria's tapioca and starch substitutes imports, holding an 84.4% share of the total volume, while other markets contributed smaller portions.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Nigeria's imports of tapioca and starch substitutes continued to rise for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import value reached 260.2 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp 34.1% year-on-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 2 249%, with a compound annual growth rate of 186.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	244.2%	409.0%	34.1%	186.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Nigeria's imports of tapioca and starch substitutes were heavily concentrated on China, which accounted for 90.9% of the total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io