South Africa Starch Market Overview, 2028

The South Africa starch market is a dynamic and significant sector within the country's agribusiness industry. Starch is a crucial ingredient in various food products and industrial applications, making it a key component of the country's economy. South Africa primarily produces starch from maize, which is one of its staple crops, alongside wheat and sugarcane. Moreover, South Africa's starch market has expanded beyond domestic consumption, with a growing export market. The country's starch manufacturers have been investing in modernizing their production facilities and adopting sustainable practices to meet both local and international demand. Additionally, the starch industry plays a vital role in job creation and contributes to rural development, as maize cultivation remains a significant source of income for many small-scale farmers in South Africa. According to the research report "South Africa Starch Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the South Africa Starch market is expected to add nearly around USD 140 Million from 2023 to 2028. South Africa imports starch from a variety of countries to meet its domestic demand and support its diverse industries. Among the major sources of starch imports, Thailand is a significant supplier. Thai tapioca starch is particularly popular for its quality and versatility in food processing applications. Additionally, South Africa imports starch from countries within the European Union, such as Germany and the Netherlands, which are known for producing high-quality wheat and potato starch. The United States is another notable source, with its cornstarch being utilized in various industrial and food applications. South Africa's starch imports also include products from neighboring African countries, such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, which produce maize starch. These imports help ensure a stable supply of starch to meet the diverse needs of South Africa's food, beverage, and industrial sectors while offering consumers a range of options in the market.

Starch manufacturing in South Africa is primarily concentrated in the major agricultural regions of the country, where the primary raw material, maize, is cultivated. The major regions of starch manufacturing in South Africa include KwaZulu-Natal, located in the eastern part of the country, is a significant hub for maize production and starch manufacturing. It benefits from a favorable climate and fertile soil, making it an ideal location for maize cultivation and processing. Mpumalanga, another key maize-producing region, Mpumalanga, is located in the northeastern part of South Africa. The province hosts several starch processing facilities and plays a vital role in the country's starch production. Free State known as the "breadbasket" of South Africa, the Free State province is a major maize-growing region and a significant contributor to the starch manufacturing industry. It is centrally located, making it well-connected to distribution networks. The South Africa starch market exhibits a notable segmentation based on the type of starch, with two primary categories: Native and Derivatives of Starch. Currently, the derivatives of starch segment lead the market, representing a significant portion of starch usage in various industries. The native starch segment is poised for growth in the coming future. Native starches, which are extracted directly from sources like maize and potatoes without extensive processing, are gaining traction due to several factors. Consumers are increasingly seeking natural and minimally processed ingredients in their food products, driving demand for native starches as clean-label alternatives. Native starches are valued for their ability to provide texture, stability, and thickness to food products without the need for chemical modifications, making them an appealing choice for health-conscious consumers. Additionally, the use of native starches aligns with the growing trend of sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. These starches are considered more eco-friendly because they require less processing and have a lower carbon footprint compared to their derivative counterparts. In conclusion, while derivatives of starch currently dominate the South Africa starch market, the native starch segment is poised for growth in response to consumer preferences for natural, minimally processed ingredients and the broader sustainability movement. This shift reflects the industry's adaptability and commitment to meeting evolving market demands. The South Africa starch market exhibits a multifaceted segmentation based on the source of starch production, encompassing various raw materials such as corn, cassava/tapioca, wheat, potatoes, waxy maize, and others like pregelatinized starch, rice bran, sweet potato, and pea. Among these sources, corn stands out as the dominant contributor to the market's success. Corn starch, derived from maize, enjoys widespread usage in South Africa, primarily due to the abundance of maize cultivation in the region. It serves as a vital ingredient in the food and industrial sectors, making it a cornerstone of the country's starch industry. While corn starch leads the market, other sources also play a significant role in shaping the South Africa starch market's growth trajectory. Cassava/tapioca, for instance, contributes to diversifying the starch market. Tapioca starch, in particular, is valued for its unique properties and is used in various food applications. Additionally, wheat, potatoes, and waxy maize offer alternatives and niche applications, adding variety to the starch market and catering to specific industry requirements.

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Manmayi Raval

Research Consultant

In the South Africa starch market, applications are indeed pivotal in shaping the demand and utilization of starch-based products. The market is segmented into several sectors, each with its own distinct requirements and contributions to the overall industry. Among these sectors, the food and beverage industry stands out as the dominant force, exerting a significant influence on the market's dynamics. The food and beverage sector's dominance in the South Africa starch market is a testament to the versatility and widespread use of starch in culinary and processing applications. Starch serves as a critical ingredient in various food products, including baked goods, sauces, soups, confectionery, and dairy products. It plays a crucial role in providing texture, stability, and thickness to these products, making it indispensable for food manufacturers. As a thickening agent, it dominates the market. Moreover, starch-based sweeteners, like corn syrup and glucose syrup, are extensively used as sweetening agents and additives in the beverage industry. Additionally, starch has applications in the weaving and textile industry, animal feed production, paper industry (for sizing and coating), and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Following closely as a significant application is starch's role as a stabilizing agent. In industries like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, stabilizers are essential for maintaining product uniformity and preventing ingredient separation or spoilage. Starch serves as a dependable stabilizing agent, contributing to the shelf stability of a wide array of products. Considered in this report: • Geography: South Africa • Historic year: 2017 • Base year: 2022 • Estimated year: 2023 • Forecast year: 2028 Aspects covered in this report: • South Africa Starch market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendation

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By Type: • Native • Derivative • Glucose syrup • Modified • hydrolysates • Maltodextrin • cyclodextrin By Source: • Corn • Cassava/Tapioca • Wheat • Potatoes • waxy Maize • Others (Waxy Maize, Pregelatinized Starch, Rice Bran, Sweet potato, Pea etc) By Application: • Food and Beverage • Industrial • Weaving & textile • Animal Feed • Paper Industry • Pharmaceuticals & cosmetics • Others (adhesives, foundry) By Function: • Thickening Agent • Stabilizing Agent • Binding Agent • Gelling Agent • Film-Forming Agent • Emulsifying Agent The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, and annual reports of companies, analyzing the government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience: This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the Starch Market industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.