The global cassava starch market size was valued at USD 5.95 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 6.28 billion in 2026 to USD 9.62 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 5.48% during the forecast period (2026–2034). Asia Pacific dominated the cassava starch market with a share of 58.22% in 2025.
Cassava starch is a carbohydrate-rich starch extracted from the roots of the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta). It is a fine, white powder characterized by thickening, binding, stabilizing, and gelatinization properties and is used in food preparation as well as in applications such as paper, textiles, adhesives, plywood, glucose, and dextrin production. Cassava starch is tracked under HS Code 110814 (for manioc (cassava) starch) and SIC Code 2046 (wet corn milling).
The cassava starch market demand is supported by the use of starch-based ingredients in food processing, rising preference for natural and plant-derived ingredients, and increasing applications of cassava starch in industrial products. Food manufacturers use cassava starch as a thickener, binder, stabilizer, and filler, while industrial users apply it in paper, textiles, adhesives, plywood, and other products, contributing to cassava starch market growth.
By Product Type
By Grade
By Function
By Application
By Distribution
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Adoption of Cassava Starch in Biodegradable Packaging
The need to reduce conventional plastic use is supporting cassava starch as a raw material for biodegradable films, bags, coatings, and other packaging products. Its biodegradable properties are encouraging packaging manufacturers to explore starch-based alternatives for selected applications. This shift is broadening cassava starch use beyond food ingredients into sustainable packaging materials.
Development of Cassava Starch for 3D Food Printing
The cassava starch market analysis shows that development of 3D food printing is creating demand for starch ingredients with controlled thickness, flow, and shape retention. Cassava starch can help printed food maintain its form during layer-by-layer production while supporting the desired texture of finished products. This trend is expanding cassava starch into specialized food-processing applications alongside conventional uses.
Supply chain disruptions are expected to have a substantial impact on the cassava starch market share, as dependence on fresh cassava roots, local collection networks, starch-processing facilities, drying operations, and export logistics makes the market sensitive to agricultural disruptions and transportation delays. The market is likely to follow a stair-step recovery pattern, as supply restoration can occur in phases through new harvest cycles, renewed processing activity, and gradual normalization of export flows. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.48%, but supply chain constraints could approximately lower this by 0.9 percentage points, resulting in short-term growth of around 4.58%. As supply conditions normalize through improved cassava availability, stable processing operations, smoother export logistics, and more reliable transportation networks, cassava starch market growth is expected to gradually return to 5.48%.
The cassava starch market forecasts strategic investment activity driven by expanding food and beverage applications, biodegradable packaging, bio-based adhesives, pharmaceutical excipients, and the development of modified starch products.
Key Investment and Funding Activities in Cassava Starch Market, 2025
Nigeria's Investment Promotion Agency
USD 25–35 Million
In December 2025, Nigeria's Investment Promotion Agency listed a USD 25–35 million greenfield cassava processing and ethanol project in Benue State. The planned facility has a capacity of 100 tonnes per day and will produce cassava starch, cassava flour, and ethanol for domestic and export markets.
Dei BioPharma
USD 50 Million
In November 2025, Dei BioPharma commissioned a USD 50 million cassava starch processing plant in Namasagali, Uganda. The facility is designed to process 500 metric tons of cassava per day and produce starch, glucose, and maltose for pharmaceutical and food applications.
Nigeria's Federal Government
USD 382 Million
In September 2025, Nigeria's Federal Government announced a proposed USD 382 million investment program for cassava covering 207,000 hectares in Ogun, Oyo, and Anambra. The program includes 375 processing units and is specifically intended to reduce dependence on imported starch and high-quality cassava flour.
Demand for Gluten-free Food Products and Textile Finishing Applications Drives Market
The demand for gluten-free food is increasing the use of cassava starch in bakery products, snacks, sauces, and prepared foods. Its neutral taste and functional properties make it suitable for formulations that avoid wheat-based ingredients. Wider adoption in gluten-free formulations can therefore further support cassava starch demand.
Greater textile production activity supports cassava starch use in fabric sizing and finishing processes. Starch can improve yarn strength and handling during textile manufacturing. Its binding properties support smoother processing and fabric quality. Higher fabric processing volumes are consequently expanding cassava starch consumption in industrial applications.
High moisture content in fresh cassava can shorten the time available between harvesting and processing. Delayed processing can increase root deterioration and reduce starch recovery. This condition increases losses during raw material handling and transportation, raising handling pressure for starch manufacturers.
Energy requirements for starch processing can increase production expenses across washing, grinding, separation, and drying stages. Energy-intensive operations can become more costly when electricity or fuel prices rise. Greater energy consumption can also reduce cost efficiency for starch processing facilities.
Use of Cassava Starch in Pharmaceutical Formulations and Adhesive Manufacturing Offers New Growth Opportunities to Market Players
The growth of cassava starch use in pharmaceutical formulations is creating demand for native starch and selected starch derivatives used as binders, fillers, and disintegrants in tablets. Its plant-based origin and functional properties can support suitable pharmaceutical formulations. Wider pharmaceutical production can broaden cassava starch applications beyond processed foods.
The expansion of cassava starch-based adhesives is creating demand for industrial starch in paper, corrugated board, and other bonding applications. Cassava starch can provide binding properties required in adhesive manufacturing while supporting starch-based formulations. Greater use in these industries expands cassava starch application in non-food industries.
Infrastructure Limitation in Cassava-Growing Region and Inconsistent Quality Challenge Market Growth
Limited infrastructure in cassava-growing regions can make it difficult to move roots from farms to starch processing facilities. Poor road connectivity and limited local processing capacity can increase transportation distances and handling delays. These gaps can complicate the movement of cassava starch raw materials.
Inconsistent quality of cassava starch can arise from differences in raw material characteristics, processing conditions, and starch composition. Variations in properties such as viscosity, whiteness, and purity can affect suitability for food and industrial formulations. Such inconsistency and quality variability can therefore restrict customer retention and broader market acceptance.
The native cassava starch segment accounted for a share of 61.4% in 2025, supported by its broad use as a food ingredient and industrial starch across food processing, paper production, textile manufacturing, and adhesive applications. Its neutral taste, functional versatility, and cost-effective processing support strong demand for native starch in processed foods and industrial applications.
The specialty cassava starch segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.84% during the forecast period, driven by demand for modified starches with specific functional properties for specialized applications.
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The food grade segment accounted for a share of 64.8% in 2025, owing to the extensive use of cassava starch as a food thickener, stabilizer, and texturizing ingredient in processed foods and beverages.
The pharmaceutical grade segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.74% during the forecast period, supported by the use of cassava starch in tablet formulations, binders, and pharmaceutical excipients.
The thickener segment accounted for a share of 25.2% in 2025, supported by the ability of cassava starch to increase viscosity and improve texture in food and beverage formulations. The use of food thickeners in sauces, soups, bakery products, and processed foods sustains its dominant position.
The film former segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.12% during the forecast period, driven by the use of cassava starch in coatings, edible films, and biodegradable materials.
The food and beverages segment accounted for a share of 42.7% in 2025, owing to the widespread use of cassava starch as a versatile food ingredient in bakery products, snacks, sauces, confectionery, and processed foods.
The bio-based materials segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.12% during the forecast period, supported by the development of biodegradable materials using cassava starch as a renewable feedstock.
The direct sales segment accounted for a share of 48.6% in 2025, supported by bulk procurement requirements from food processors, the paper industry, textile producers, and adhesive manufacturing companies. Direct supplier relationships provide manufacturers with consistent cassava starch quality, customized specifications, and reliable volumes for large-scale production.
The specialty ingredient suppliers segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.43% during the forecast period, driven by demand for application-specific starch products and modified starch solutions.
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Market Dominance Led by Consumer Interest in Plant-based Ingredients
The Asia Pacific cassava starch market accounted for the largest regional share of 58.22% in 2025, supported by cassava cultivation and rising use of starch in modified food ingredients, paper, textiles, and biodegradable materials.
The Japan cassava starch market was valued at approximately USD 0.09 billion in 2025. Demand is supported by the country’s food processing sector and growing interest in plant-based and specialty starch ingredients for noodles, confectionery, sauces, and processed foods. Japan’s manufacturers are also exploring tapioca starch in formulations requiring specific texture and thickening properties.
The China cassava starch market was valued at approximately USD 0.72 billion in 2025, supported by large-scale production of modified starch, adhesives, paper products, and food ingredients, with cassava starch offering functional properties for industrial processing. China’s development of biodegradable packaging and starch-based materials is also creating additional application potential.
The India cassava starch market was valued at approximately USD 0.31 billion in 2025. Increasing requirements for starch ingredients across food processing, the textile industry, paper, and pharmaceutical manufacturing are broadening domestic consumption. India’s NECTAR supported a cassava starch project in Nagaland to produce compostable bioplastic bags, expanding applications in biodegradable packaging.
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Fastest Growth Fueled by Established Pet Food Industry and Stringent Pharmaceutical Quality Standards
The Europe cassava starch market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.17% during the forecast period, supported by rising use of starch-based ingredients in animal feed, cosmetics, personal care, and specialty food formulations.
The UK cassava starch market was valued at USD 0.11 billion in 2025. Growth in animal nutrition and specialty ingredient formulations is creating new applications for cassava starch, particularly as a carbohydrate and functional ingredient in feed products. The UK’s established livestock and pet food industries provide an expanding consumption base for starch-based feed ingredients.
The Germany cassava starch market was valued at USD 0.14 billion in 2025. Demand for pharmaceutical-grade and industrial-grade cassava starch is supported by the country's established pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, paper manufacturing, and other industrial formulations. The country’s stringent pharmaceutical quality standards favor consistent, high-purity starch ingredients suitable for regulated drug manufacturing.
Market Growth Supported by Food Manufacturing and Textile Applications
The North America cassava starch market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.63% during the forecast period, supported by established food and beverage manufacturing, increasing use of functional starch ingredients, and demand for starch in specialty industrial formulations.
The U.S. cassava starch market was valued at USD 0.36 billion in 2025. Large-scale food and chocolate manufacturing is creating demand for cassava starch in confectionery, fillings, sauces, and texture-modifying formulations. U.S. import records show continued commercial supply of tapioca starch shipments, indicating ongoing procurement of cassava-derived starch ingredients.
The Canada cassava starch market was valued at USD 0.08 billion in 2025. Canada’s beverage and textile industries offer applications for cassava starch as a stabilizer, thickener, and textile-sizing ingredient. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office lists tapioca starch for food and beverage manufacturing, as well as applications in adhesives, cosmetics, personal care, textiles, and packaging, growing its wider industrial demand in the country.
Latin America: Market Growth Led by Expansion of Cassava Root Cultivationand Processing Applications
The Latin America cassava starch market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.89% during the forecast period, supported by expanding cassava cultivation, starch-processing capacity, food manufacturing, and industrial applications. The Brazil cassava starch market benefits from the country’s substantial cassava-root cultivation. Embrapa launched the BRS Boitatá cultivar in 2025 specifically for starch production in Brazil’s Center-South region, strengthening the raw material base for the cassava starch industry. In Mexico, the market is benefiting from the use of starch ingredients in bakery products, sauces, and industrial formulations.
Middle East and Africa: Market Driven by Circular Economy Initiatives
The Middle East and Africa cassava starch market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.76% during the forecast period, supported by rising industrial applications, interest in renewable raw materials, and development of circular economy initiatives. The UAE Circular Economy Agenda 2031 promotes renewable materials and identifies starch-based materials as alternatives to non-renewable inputs, supporting opportunities for cassava starch. South Africa’s agricultural guidelines identify cassava starch as a natural adhesive with applications across industrial sectors such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and animal-feed formulations.
The cassava starch market competitive landscape is moderately fragmented, with participation from starch manufacturers, cassava processors, specialty ingredient producers, food-ingredient companies, and regional agricultural processors supplying food, beverage, paper, textile, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Leading players such as Ingredion Incorporated, Thai Wah Public Company Limited, Tate & Lyle PLC, AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, and Roquette Frères are collectively estimated to account for approximately 20–25% of the global cassava starch market share.
Established participants compete primarily through starch quality, processing capabilities, product consistency, and application expertise. Emerging, niche, and regional companies in the cassava starch market ecosystem compete through specialized starch grades, modified cassava starches, and customized formulations.
January 2026: Agbeyewa Industries acquired Matna Foods, one of Nigeria's established cassava starch processors.
November 2025: NALDA and Agbeyewa Farms signed an MoU/JV framework under which NALDA will clear 5,000 hectares for Agbeyewa's cassava expansion in Ekiti State.
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Author's Details
Research Analyst
Preeti Bhagat is a research professional with around 2.5 years of experience in the market research industry, specializing in market analysis, secondary research, market estimation, forecasting, and competitive intelligence. She has developed expertise across industries including Packaging and Consumer Goods, supporting businesses with data-driven insights into market dynamics, industry trends, competitive landscapes, and growth opportunities.
Her experience includes conducting comprehensive secondary research, market sizing, demand analysis, company profiling, competitive benchmarking, and trend assessment. She has hands-on experience with structured research methodologies, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, to assess market potential, growth opportunities, and future market performance.
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