Market research

Tapioca and starch substitutes market in SADC

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"SADC" region includes following countries:

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Earlier Report Observations

The tapioca and starch substitutes market in SADC experienced significant growth in 2019, with volume rising to 89 368 t from 77 727 t the previous year. This expansion was followed by a contraction starting in 2020, when market volume fell to 80 601 t.

The declining trend continued through the early 2020s, with the market shrinking to 72 361 t by 2023. During this later period, consumer preferences in South Africa shifted notably toward plant-based foods and ancient grains like sorghum and millet, reflecting a broader move toward healthier and sustainable diets that influenced demand for starch-based 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, 2018-2024
    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 SADC
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in SADC in kind, 2018-2023, t
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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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 Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola 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 Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola 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 Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola 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 SADC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

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

In 2019, SADC produced 86,535 tonnes of tapioca and starch substitutes, marking the highest output during the period. However, production dropped to 78,614 tonnes in 2020, a decrease of 9.2% from the previous year. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 75,326 tonnes. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.8%, which translates to an average annual increase of 1.3%. The most significant year-on-year rise occurred in 2019, with a 14.9% increase.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.5%)	14.9%	(9.2%)	1.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tapioca and starch substitutes from SADC

Exports in kind, t

The export market for tapioca and starch substitutes from SADC showed considerable volatility from 2017 to 2020. In 2018, exports hit their lowest point at just 2 tonnes, but surged dramatically to 257 tonnes in 2019, representing an extraordinary increase of 11,684.1%. This was followed by a decline to 196 tonnes in 2020, down 23.7% from 2019. The difference between the peak in 2019 and the trough in 2018 was substantial, with the 2019 volume being 118 times higher. The sharpest drop occurred in 2018, with a 96.5% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(96.5%)	11 684.1%	(23.7%)	47.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, France and Greece were the leading buyers of tapioca and starch substitutes from SADC, together accounting for 2.6% of total exports by volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values for tapioca and starch substitutes from SADC experienced significant fluctuations, indicating a highly volatile market. In 2019, exports were at their lowest, totaling 388,000 US dollars, but rebounded sharply to 801,000 US dollars in 2020, a 106.1% increase. This turnaround resulted in the 2020 value being 2.1 times higher than the 2019 low. The most notable decline was in 2019, with a 23.5% drop.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.0%)	(23.5%)	106.1%	16.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, France and Special Categories remained the primary buyers of tapioca and starch substitutes from SADC in value terms, jointly representing 1.1% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tapioca and starch substitutes to SADC

Imports in kind, t

Imports of tapioca and starch substitutes into SADC saw a notable decline in 2020, falling to 2,184 tonnes, which was a 29.3% decrease from 2019. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 3,089 tonnes, with a 28.6% increase that year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 10.3%, averaging an annual decline of 3.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.4%)	28.6%	(29.3%)	(3.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the largest suppliers of tapioca and starch substitutes to SADC by volume were Thailand, with a 47.3% share, Turkey at 11.6%, and Vietnam at 5.6%. Together, these three countries accounted for 64.6% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After increasing for two consecutive years, imports of tapioca and starch substitutes into SADC in value terms declined in 2020 to 2,030,000 US dollars, down 5.8% from 2019. The peak was reached in 2019 at 2,156,000 US dollars. Over the 2017-2020 span, imports grew by 28%, with an average annual rate of 8.6%. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, at 18.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	18.6%	14.6%	(5.8%)	8.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the top contributors to SADC's imports of tapioca and starch substitutes in value terms were Thailand, with a 45.7% share, Turkey at 4.9%, and Asia, not elsewhere specified, at 4.0%. Collectively, these sources made up 54.7% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io