Wheat starch market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The wheat starch market in Eastern Asia showed moderate fluctuations from 2018 to 2023, with annual consumption volume moving between 932 thousand tons and 966 thousand tons. Production remained relatively steady near 919 thousand tons through 2022 before increasing to 947 thousand tons in 2023.

The rise in production during 2023 was primarily driven by ongoing capacity expansion across the industry. At the same time, market demand faced pressure as wheat starch's substitution advantage over corn starch weakened, owing to ample corn starch supply and constrained prices.

Entering 2024, the industry's production capacity continued to grow, with output heavily concentrated in Henan, Shandong, Anhui, and Shaanxi provinces. The state's continued minimum purchase price policy for wheat supported raw material supply, while the sector shifted focus towards low-carbon, green production technologies and deeper processing efficiency.

Production wheat starch in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat starch, 2017-2020

In 2019, wheat starch production in Eastern Asia saw its largest decline of 0.9%. However, production rebounded in 2018, reaching a peak of 919.4 thousand tons with the largest increase of 1.8%. By 2020, output remained stable at 911.3 thousand tons, showing virtually no change from 2019.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2018, the value of wheat starch production in Eastern Asia hit its lowest point at 679.5 million US dollars. The following year, 2019, saw the highest value of 735.4 million US dollars, marking the largest increase of 8.2%. By 2020, the value had declined moderately by 3.5% year-over-year to 709.6 million US dollars.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports wheat starch from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, t

Wheat starch exports from Eastern Asia have declined for two consecutive years. In 2018, exports peaked at 5,421 tons with the largest increase of 11.6%. By 2020, exports had dropped to 4,195 tons, down 13.1% from the previous year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 13.6%, averaging an annual decline of 4.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, wheat starch exports from Eastern Asia were not heavily concentrated on a few key markets. The top three destinations—Malaysia with 10.7% of exports, the United States with 8.5%, and Thailand with 8.0%—collectively accounted for only 27.3% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Eastern Asia's wheat starch exports have fallen for the second year in a row. In 2018, export value reached its maximum at 4,007 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase of 6.4%. By 2020, the value had dropped notably by 16.2% to 3,267 thousand US dollars compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 13.2%, equating to an average annual decline of 4.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, wheat starch exports from Eastern Asia in value terms were not dominated by a few major destinations. The United States accounted for 13.8% of exports, Australia for 11.3%, and Malaysia for 7.3%, with these three countries together making up just 32.4% of total export value.

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

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

Imports wheat starch to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, t

After increasing for two years, wheat starch imports into Eastern Asia declined. In 2018, imports saw the largest increase of 18.2%, followed by a peak in 2019 at 35,190 tons. By 2020, imports had fallen sharply by 27.8% year-over-year to 25,412 tons.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for wheat starch imports into Eastern Asia were Australia with 22.2% of imports, Lithuania with 21.5%, and Belgium with 15.2%. Together, these three countries accounted for 58.9% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year rise, wheat starch imports into Eastern Asia decreased. In 2018, imports recorded the largest increase of 23.1%, and the value peaked in 2019 at 15,692 thousand US dollars. By 2020, imports had declined solidly by 23.0% to 12,080 thousand US dollars compared to the previous year.

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

During the 2017–2020 period, the leading sources for wheat starch imports into Eastern Asia in value terms were Lithuania with 20.9% of imports, Australia with 18.7%, and Belgium with 16.0%. These three countries jointly represented 55.6% of total import value.

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

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