Market research

Wheat starch market in Africa

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

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

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the wheat starch market volume in Africa expanded from 43 670 t to 63 294 t. This growth was driven by rising demand from the food and pharmaceutical industries, while COVID-19 supply chain disruptions reinforced interest in local production and alternative starch sources like cassava.

After peaking in 2020, market volume dropped to 57 805 t in 2021 and further to 53 728 t in 2022. The sharp increase in wheat prices following the Ukraine war severely affected import-dependent supply chains in 2022, reducing the availability of raw materials for starch production.

In 2023, the market rebounded to 65 331 t. Diversification of wheat supplies, including greater imports from Russia, along with government policies encouraging local consumption and the use of alternative starches, supported this recovery.

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 Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria 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 wheat starch in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wheat starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wheat starch, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Wheat starch production in Africa increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Africa produced 56 616 tonnes of wheat starch, marking a significant rise of 15.0% compared to the previous year. Production grew by 28.5% between 2017 and 2020, equivalent to an annualized rate of 8.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 43 842 tonnes, which saw a slight decline of 0.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.5%)	12.3%	15.0%	8.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wheat starch from Africa

Exports in kind, t

Wheat starch exports from Africa declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Africa exported 681 tonnes of wheat starch, representing a sharp drop of 57.9% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 76.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -38.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.1%)	(31.3%)	(57.9%)	(38.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of wheat starch exports in volume terms remained highly diversified. Syria accounted for 15.2% of exports, Yemen for 6.3%, and Iraq for 1.0%, together making up only 22.6% of total flows. The remaining 77.4% consisted of a long tail of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Wheat starch exports from Africa declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 875 thousand US dollars, showing only a marginal fluctuation compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 49.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -20.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 923 thousand US dollars, which saw an increase of 11.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 54.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.3%	(54.3%)	(0.4%)	(20.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of wheat starch exports in value terms remained highly diversified. Syria contributed 19.0% of exports, Yemen 7.5%, and Spain 6.5%, together accounting for 33.0% of total flows. The remaining 67.0% came from a long tail of smaller markets.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wheat starch to Africa

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2018, with an 8.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Africa's wheat starch imports stood at 7 359 tonnes, reflecting a steep increase of 66.3% compared to 2019. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 180 tonnes, which saw a decline of 88.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 103.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(88.4%)	103.0%	66.3%	(26.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Australia, China, and Turkey played leading roles in wheat starch imports to Africa in volume terms. Australia accounted for 61.4% of imports, China for 8.0%, and Turkey for 3.2%, jointly taking 72.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports peaked in 2017 and reached their lowest point in 2018, with a 6.8-fold difference. In 2020, cross-border shipments of wheat starch to Africa amounted to 5 264 thousand US dollars, indicating a rise of 138.2% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 1 219 thousand US dollars, which saw a decline of 85.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(85.2%)	81.3%	138.2%	(14.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017 to 2020, Australia, China, and the United Arab Emirates were the main destinations for wheat starch imports to Africa in value terms. Australia accounted for 49.2% of imports, China for 11.9%, and the United Arab Emirates for 7.0%, together absorbing 68.1% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io