Wheat gluten market in Bolivia

Earlier Report Observations

Bolivia's wheat gluten market volume increased from 5 893 tons in 2018 to 6 737 tons in 2020. This growth coincided with the interim government's May 2020 decree authorizing streamlined evaluation procedures for genetically modified seeds of wheat and other crops, aimed at boosting domestic production for internal consumption and export.

From 2021 onward, the market entered a sustained contraction, falling to 5 040 tons by 2023. Severe drought and adverse weather conditions repeatedly damaged the national wheat crop, reducing the raw material base for gluten production. Although state purchasing prices for wheat were raised to USD 290 per ton in 2022 to incentivize farmers, climate-related supply constraints remained the dominant driver of the market's decline.

In response to the ongoing production shortfall, the Bolivian government introduced a 0% tariff on imports of wheat and wheat flour until the end of 2024 to secure local supply. The debate over adopting drought-resistant genetically modified wheat varieties, which began in 2019, continues as a potential long-term solution to the sector's vulnerability to climate shocks.

Production wheat gluten in Bolivia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Bolivia ranked 13th globally in wheat gluten production volume.

Top producers of wheat gluten, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat gluten, 2017-2020

After two consecutive years of decline, Bolivia's wheat gluten production rebounded in 2020. That year, the country produced 6 714 tons of wheat gluten, marking a significant 14.8% increase from 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 16.8%, which translates to an average annual decline of 6.0%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 5 846 tons, while the steepest year-on-year drop occurred in 2018 with a 27.3% decrease.

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

Exports wheat gluten from Bolivia

According to market research, Bolivia did not export any wheat gluten between 2017 and 2020.

Imports wheat gluten to Bolivia

Imports in kind, t

The market for wheat gluten imports into Bolivia showed considerable volatility during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 4.7-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Bolivia imported 23.1 tons of wheat gluten, representing a sharp 77.8% decline from the previous year. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 104.0 tons, which also saw the largest year-on-year increase of 372.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, China was the nearly exclusive supplier of wheat gluten to Bolivia, accounting for 91.8% of total imports by volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values for wheat gluten into Bolivia displayed irregular and volatile patterns. From a low in 2017 to a high in 2019, values varied by a factor of 4.6. In 2020, Bolivia imported $36.1 thousand worth of wheat gluten, which was 78.4% lower than in 2019. The peak import value occurred in 2019 at $167.4 thousand, which also experienced the largest year-on-year surge of 303.2%.

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

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, China overwhelmingly dominated Bolivia's wheat gluten imports in value terms, capturing 89.5% of the total. Other countries each accounted for substantially smaller shares of the import market.

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

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