Tapioca and starch substitutes market in Timor-Leste

Earlier Report Observations

The market for tapioca and starch substitutes in Timor-Leste declined from 1 204 t in 2018 to 943 t in 2021, with local production falling from 1 141 t to 858 t over the same period. This contraction was primarily driven by structural constraints in domestic cassava farming, as cassava occupied only about 7% of cultivated land, limiting the raw material base for tapioca. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MAPPF) played a central regulatory role but focused its support and seed-certification investments on staple crops like corn and rice, not cassava, which further restrained local output.

Market volume recovered to 1 100 t by 2023, largely due to a surge in imports, which rose from 85 t in 2021 to 184 t in 2023. Domestic production remained subdued, ranging between 882 t and 916 t, as the low share of land dedicated to cassava persisted and the private sector faced ongoing challenges such as limited access to financing and underdeveloped infrastructure. No new major production facilities, market entrants, or specific regulatory changes were recorded that could have stimulated local supply during this period.

In 2024, imports remained significant at 150 t, while the fundamental limitations—including the small cassava cultivation area and a lack of targeted investment in the sector—continued to shape the market, keeping domestic production constrained and import-dependent.

Production tapioca and starch substitutes in Timor-Leste

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Timor-Leste ranked 22nd globally in the production of tapioca and starch substitutes.

Top producers of tapioca and starch substitutes, 2017-2020

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

Tapioca and starch substitutes production in Timor-Leste fell for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 982 tonnes, marking a 7.5% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production dropped by 20.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 7.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Timor-Leste in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports tapioca and starch substitutes from Timor-Leste

Market analysis reveals that Timor-Leste did not export any tapioca and starch substitutes between 2017 and 2020.

Imports tapioca and starch substitutes to Timor-Leste

Imports in kind, kg

After rising for two years, Timor-Leste's imports of tapioca and starch substitutes fell in 2020. The country imported 54 951 kg that year, a sharp drop of 32.2% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 4.6%, averaging a 1.6% annual decline. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 81 003 kg, which also saw the largest increase of 29.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Timor-Leste in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Between 2017 and 2020, Indonesia was the dominant source for Timor-Leste's tapioca and starch substitutes imports, consistently making up 99.2% of the total.

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

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

Imports in value, $ US

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Import values fluctuated significantly, with a 2.6-fold difference between the low in 2017 and the high in 2019. In 2020, Timor-Leste's imports were valued at 16 745 US dollars, down 29.6% from the previous year. The peak value occurred in 2019 at 23 779 US dollars, following the largest increase of 95.9% in 2018.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Indonesia led the import structure in value terms, accounting for 96.8% of total imports.

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

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