Middle East & Africa Starch Market Outlook, 2028

The Middle East and Africa starch market has witnessed significant growth and evolution in recent years. This region's starch industry is driven by a combination of factors, including population growth, increasing urbanization, and the expanding food and beverage sector. Starch production in the Middle East and Africa plays a significant role in the region's agricultural and industrial sectors. Both regions have a rich history of cultivating starchy crops such as maize, cassava, wheat, and rice, which serve as primary sources of starch. In the Middle East, countries like Egypt and Turkey have been prominent contributors to starch production, with a focus on wheat and maize-based starches. Africa, on the other hand, is a major producer of cassava starch, with Nigeria being a notable player in this sector. In recent years, the Middle East and Africa have witnessed significant trends and innovations in the starch manufacturing industry. One notable trend is the growing demand for alternative starch sources, driven by concerns about food security and sustainability. This has led to increased research and development in the region to explore unconventional starch sources such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams. These efforts aim to reduce dependence on traditional starch sources like corn and wheat, which are often subject to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.

According to the research report Middle East and Africa Starch Market Overview, 2028, the Middle East and Africa Starch market is witnessed to value around USD 4.15 Billion by 2028. The Middle East and Africa starch market is experiencing significant growth in recent years. This expansion can be attributed to a variety of factors that have contributed to increased demand for starch-based products in the region. One key driver of this growth is the rising population and changing dietary preferences, with more people in the Middle East and Africa incorporating processed foods and convenience products into their diets. Additionally, the food and beverage industry in the region has been steadily expanding, further boosting the demand for starch as a key ingredient in various food products. Several prominent players involved in the current MEA starch market are expected to focus on investing resources toward the expansion of their factories. In addition, efforts are likely to be made to improve the existing production infrastructure to cater to niche consumer demands.

According to the report, the Middle East and Africa Starch market is being distinguished based on three countries; namely, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. South Africa dominates the MEA market as per the report. The South Africa starch market is a dynamic and significant sector within the country's agribusiness industry, 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. The starch market in Saudi Arabia has witnessed steady growth in recent years, reflecting the country's expanding food processing and industrial sectors. Starch powder manufacturing sites in Saudi Arabia are strategically located to serve the burgeoning demand within the country and the wider Middle East region. As the UAE continues to attract a diverse population, there is a growing demand for a wide range of food products, including those that incorporate starch as a key ingredient. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Starch market is expected to grow with significant CAGR from 2023 to 2028. In terms of starch exports, the UAE primarily exports starch to countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. One of the key factors contributing to the success of starch manufacturing in the UAE is its strategic location as a global trade and logistics hub. This facilitates the import of raw materials and the export of finished starch products to various markets around the world. Additionally, the UAE's advanced infrastructure and world-class facilities ensure the efficient processing and packaging of starch products.

The MEA starch market exhibits a clear segmentation based on the type of starch, primarily classified into two categories: native starch and derivatives of starch. Native starch, being unmodified and sourced directly from plants, aligns well with this trend and is preferred by consumers seeking more natural and less processed food products. Additionally, the demand for gluten-free and allergen-free products is on the rise, and native starches, often free from allergens, can play a pivotal role in meeting these dietary preferences. Currently, the derivatives of starch segment take the lead in market share. This dominance can be attributed to the versatility and wide range of applications that starch derivatives offer in various industries, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and paper manufacturing. Derivatives of starch are further broken down into other forms in the MEA starch market, including glucose syrup, modified starch, hydrolysates, maltodextrin, and cyclodextrin. The category with the biggest market share among them is glucose syrup, which is followed by modified starch and other kinds. With its wide variety of uses, glucose syrup currently holds the top spot in the MEA starch market. It is widely used as a sweetening ingredient, texturizer, and for its capacity to control crystallization in confectionery goods in the food and beverage sector. In addition, glucose syrup serves as a crucial component in the manufacture of many processed foods and beverages, making it a necessary element in the MEA food manufacturing industry. The second-largest category, right after glucose syrup, is modified starch. Modified starches are extremely adaptable and have uses in a variety of sectors, including the food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries. They are prized for their capacity to improve the consistency, stability, and texture of a variety of items. Modified starch has a considerable market share in MEA because in part to its flexibility. Other starch derivatives, like hydrolysates, maltodextrin, and cyclodextrin, are also crucial in a number of industries. For instance, hydrolysates are used in the pharmaceutical sector because of their solubility and digestibility. The food industry values maltodextrin as a filler, thickener, and bulking ingredient. Because it can encapsulate and stabilize active substances, cyclodextrin has uses in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

The market is further divided into subgroups based on the sources used to produce starch, such as corn, cassava/tapioca, wheat, potatoes, waxy maize, and others (such as pregelatinized starch, rice bran, sweet potato, and peas). Understanding the dynamics of the MEA starch powder market requires segmentation based on the place where the starch was produced. Corn starch comes out as the key actor among the numerous sources. Its adaptability and wide availability are responsible for its widespread use. Because it can be used in so many different industrial and food items, corn starch is a preferred ingredient for many producers. Cassava/tapioca starch has a sizable market share after corn starch. Because it is hypoallergenic and free of gluten, cassava-based starch is a popular choice. From 2023 to 2028, there will be significant growth in the others category, which includes sources like pregelatinized starch, rice bran, sweet potato, and pea, among others. This expansion might be attributable to the rise in specialized starch demand as well as the investigation of alternative starch sources to meet a variety of dietary and industrial needs.

Based on the uses for starch, the market is segmented into the following industries: food and beverage, industrial, weaving and textile, animal feed, paper industry, pharmaceuticals & cosmetics, and others (adhesives, foundry). In the food and beverage business, starch is used a lot. The MEA food and beverage sector has long relied on starch, and it really has the lion's share of the market when it comes to the consumption of starch-based goods. Starch is essential to the food and beverage industry because of its wide range of applications and multifunctional qualities. Starch is widely used as a thickening agent in a range of culinary preparations, such as soups, sauces, and gravies, in order to get the required consistency and texture. It is also a vital component of bakery goods like bread, pastries, and cakes, where it improves the structure, crumb texture, and general excellence of the finished goods. Starch, which is mostly derived from sources like corn, tapioca, and potatoes, is a key raw component in the country's industrial environment. One notable application in the paper and packaging industry is the use of starch as a binding agent and surface scaling agent to enhance paper strength and quality. Starch is a key component in the sizing process used in the textile industry in MEA in addition to the paper sector. This process imparts stiffness and smoothness to yarns and textiles during manufacturing. Starch-based adhesives are essential in the construction and wood industries because they are used to affix wood panels, laminates, and to make building materials. Starch is a crucial component of MEA's thriving chemical and pharmaceutical industries because it is also utilized as a binding agent in medicines and in the production of biodegradable polymers. 

Understanding the various applications of starch in the changing environment of the MEA starch market depends critically on segmentation based on starch's function. The numerous properties of starch make it a useful substance. These properties include thickening, stabilizing, binding, gelling, film-forming, and emulsifying. The use of starch as a thickening agent stands out among these uses since it holds the biggest market share. The food and beverage business is one where starch excels as a thickening agent. It is crucial in giving a variety of food products, including soups, sauces, gravies, and desserts, the correct consistency and texture. The demand for starch as a thickening agent has increased as a result of the MEA food industry's desire for natural and plant-based ingredients, which is in line with consumers' growing preference for products with clear labeling and natural ingredients. Additionally, starch's thickening qualities in the industrial sector are used in a variety of industries, from the manufacture of paper and textiles to cosmetics and medicines. It is a crucial part of industrial processes because of its capacity to alter viscosity and improve the performance of diverse goods. Additionally, starch functions as a binder, holding materials together in both food goods and non-food uses. It is frequently employed as a binding agent in processed foods including meat products and baked items as well as in the pharmaceutical business for making tablets. Another crucial role for starch in the MEA market is gelling. Because starch may gel when heated with water, it is a key component of foods like jams, jellies, and custards. This characteristic helps to give these products the right texture and consistency. Starch also acts as a film-forming agent, allowing the food sector to produce edible coatings and films. Last but not least, starch functions as an emulsifier, stabilizing and combining substances made of both water and oil. Producing salad dressings, mayonnaise, and other emulsified goods benefits from this feature.

Start-ups

• Several prominent players involved in the current MEA starch market are expected to focus on investing resources toward the expansion of their factories. In addition, efforts are likely to be made to improve the existing production infrastructure to cater to niche consumer demands. For instance, in January 2018, Arabian Agricultural Service Company (ARASCO), in collaboration with Cargill, announced the launch of a new corn mill in Saudi Arabia- a move that will enable the company to address the growing demand for starch from the food & beverages sector.
• In April 2018, a new starch factory was inaugurated in Oman in the country’s Sohar Industrial Zone- a move that is projected to augment the production of starch, one of the key products that is used in the oil industry. Market players involved in the current MEA starch market are inclined toward minimizing the import of starch products and become self-sufficient due to which, expansion activities of manufacturing plants have increased in recent years.

Companies Covered in this report:

The Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, Tate & Lyle PLC , Cargill, Incorporated, Ingredion Incorporated ,Associated British Foods plc, The Agrana Group , Croda International plc, Roquette ,Südzucker AG and Royal Ingredients Group B.V.

Considered in this report:

• Geography: Middle East and Africa
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report:

• Middle East and 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

Country covered in the report:

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

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.