Wheat starch market in Kenya

Earlier Report Observations

Kenya's wheat starch market volume grew from 30 240 t in 2018 to a peak of 32 348 t in 2020. This expansion occurred within a policy environment that included a reduction of the wheat import duty under the East African Community Customs Union from 35% to 10%, aimed at ensuring sufficient grain supply. Government support through subsidized fertilizer provision and programs to encourage local wheat procurement also contributed to sustaining raw material availability for starch production during this period.

After a slight market contraction to 31 706 t in 2021, production and market volume fell sharply to 24 493 t in 2022, a decline of 23%. This drop was driven by a 16.1% decline in domestic wheat production attributed to adverse weather conditions, which directly reduced the raw material base. Furthermore, Kenya's ban on wheat imports from India due to phytosanitary concerns over Karnal Bunt fungus restricted alternative supply sources, tightening the overall availability of wheat for processing into starch.

The market decline continued into 2023, with volume falling a further 9% to 22 291 t. This was influenced by global supply chain disruptions following the collapse of the Russia-Ukraine grain deal, which caused wheat price volatility and import challenges for Kenya, a country heavily reliant on foreign wheat. Concurrent domestic policy, including an extension of the 10% import duty window, aimed to stabilize supply but was offset by these broader market pressures on raw material cost and availability.

Production wheat starch in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Kenya ranked as the 19th largest producer of wheat starch globally from 2017 to 2020, establishing itself among the world's leading producers during this period.

Top producers of wheat starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat starch, 2017-2020

Wheat starch production in Kenya grew for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 32 042 tonnes. This represented a 5.7% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 6.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%.

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

Exports wheat starch from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Kenya exported 0.1 tonnes of wheat starch, maintaining the same level as the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports declined by 90%, which translates to an annualized decrease of 53.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Somalia dominated Kenya's wheat starch exports in volume terms, accounting for 90.9% of the total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Kenya's wheat starch exports were valued at 0.3 thousand US dollars in 2020, showing little change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 80.3%, with a compound annual decline of 41.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Somalia and South Sudan formed a highly concentrated market for Kenya's wheat starch exports in value terms, together representing 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports wheat starch to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

Wheat starch imports into Kenya increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 306.0 tonnes. This marked a 2.3% rise compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports surged by 6 053.2%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 294.8%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Turkey was the primary source of wheat starch imports into Kenya, accounting for 91.7% of total import volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, while the peak occurred in 2019, with a 43-fold difference between these years. In 2020, wheat starch imports into Kenya totaled 244.6 thousand US dollars, remaining virtually unchanged from the previous year. The highest value was 245.0 thousand US dollars in 2019, which saw the largest annual increase of 793.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey and the Netherlands were the two key markets for Kenya's wheat starch imports in value terms, together representing 99.5% of total flows.

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

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