Global production and use of starch

Starch is consumed worldwide, and its consumption increases with the degree of development. Despite its importance, little information is available on global starch market. This chapter aims to evaluate the global starch production and the different uses of starch in both food and non-food markets. Global production of starch has been estimated between 88.1 and 97.7 million tons in 2020. Of this total, 75% comes from corn, followed by cassava (14%), wheat (7%), and potatoes (4%). China and the United States are the main producers, mainly from corn. Thailand is the main producer of cassava starch and Europe of wheat and potato starches. Hydrolyzed starches are the most consumed, followed by native and modified starches, and these are important as a food source. Paper industry has the highest consumption of starch, followed by chemical industries and biodegradable plastics, a rapidly growing market.