Who Owns Whom
Request Free Trial Showcase Your Company WOWEB Login
Home > Report Group > Starch Industry South Africa
  • Cart
  • Checkout

    • starch industry south africa

    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2026

    Carole Veitch | South Africa | 28 February 2026

    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2023

    Stephen Timm | South Africa | 19 April 2023

    Report Info

    Report Summary Table of Contents
    Enquire about this report

    Report Coverage

    This report is on the starch industry, including sorbitol, which plays a key role in the food and industrial processing sectors, supplying stabilisers, texturisers and functional ingredients for foods and beverages, paper and packaging, pharmaceuticals, textiles, adhesives, and bioplastics. The report includes information on production capacity, consumption, industry concentration, notable players, and influencing factors such as input costs, environmental issues, government support, and technology, R&D and innovation. There are profiles of 19 companies, including the dominant player Ingrain, smaller producers such as Edila Twaalf (Top Products), WFM Starch Products, SA Fire Charka and AfriStarch, agents and distributors such as Cargill and Tate and Lyle, and raw material and ingredient suppliers such as Chemtoll.

    Introduction

    • Domestic starch supply increased by 1.9% in 2025 while imports rose by 15.5% and exports fell by 15.9%, reflecting inroads made by foreign suppliers.
    • A notable development is the recent acquisition and delisting of Ingrain’s parent company Barloworld.
    • The anticipated infusion of capital and support is likely to strengthen Ingrain’s position in the industry, enabling innovation and expansion.
    • This consolidation of dominance reinforces concerns about market concentration.
    • South Africa has no primary sorbitol production capacity and relies entirely on imports, which declined by 7.7% in volume and 13.4% in value in 2025.

    Trends

    • Applications in textiles, adhesives, and bioplastics have created new growth opportunities.
    • Clean-label trends are reshaping product development and marketing strategies.
    • Declining demand for pure sorbitol.
    • Growing demand for sorbitol 70% solution.
    • Producers are customising modified starches with functional properties for use in specific industrial applications, notably paper and packaging, textiles, adhesives, and bioplastics.
    • Producers are exploring alternatives feedstocks, such as cassava, which is more tolerant to drought and climate variability.
    • Production remains under pressure, while imports are rising.
    • Reduced demand for high-carbohydrate processed foods is affecting traditional starch use with a switch to natural or minimally processed products.
    • Sorbitol
    • Sorbitol continues to be widely used as a low-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute but is facing competition from alternative sweeteners such as xylitol, erythritol, and stevia.
    • Sorbitol is increasingly used in non-food applications.
    • Starch
    • Starch producers are adding value to waste and finding new uses for by/co-products. This trend aligns with broader sustainability goals and regulatory pressures.

    Opportunities

    • Converting starch byproducts into animal feed, bioenergy, or organic fertilisers.
    • Excipients are widely used in pharmaceuticals, and there is a focus on reducing reliance on imported inputs.
    • Expansion of sorbitol applications in personal care, hair care, oral care, and cosmetics.
    • Export broking, connecting local producers with foreign buyers.
    • Growing demand for sugar-free and diabetic friendly products.
    • In plastics and resins, sorbitol has become increasingly important as a building block for polyols and bioplastics.
    • Logistics and distribution services to connect rural producers with urban processors and retailers.
    • Packaging, labelling, and branding.
    • Production of niche products such as modified starches and gluten-free products.
    • Providing contract manufacturing or blending services.
    • Research and product development, notably in cassava-based bioplastics and pharmaceutical starches.
    • Sorbitol
    • Starch
    • Supplying alternative starch feedstocks, such as cassava or sugarcane bagasse.
    • Supplying maize-based starch or alternative feedstocks, such as cassava or sugarcane bagasse.

    Challenges

    • Climatic shocks affect crop yields.
    • Climatic shocks are a significant risk.
    • Energy supply issues.
    • Geopolitical conflicts and trade tensions continue to cause global supply shocks, driving price volatility.
    • Geopolitical conflicts disrupt global supply chains and drive up commodity prices.
    • High startup costs, feedstock price volatility, strict environmental compliance requirements, and competition from foreign suppliers.
    • Import reliance exposes domestic users to currency fluctuations, shipping costs, and global supply chain disruptions, creating pricing instability.
    • Market dominance of Ingrain which is the price setter for downstream industries reliant on starch.
    • Much of the local equipment is ageing, leading to equipment breakdowns, high maintenance costs and reduced output.
    • Ongoing trade tensions and US tariff uncertainty.
    • Production costs are highly exposed to commodity price fluctuations, especially maize and wheat.
    • Sorbitol
    • Sorbitol competes with alternative sweeteners, which limits its growth potential in food and beverage applications.
    • Starch
    • Weaker manufacturing activity in certain sectors is dampening demand.

    Outlook

    • Producers are facing growing competition from imported starches, suggesting vulnerabilities in local cost competitiveness and capacity.
    • The Barloworld acquisition is expected to provide Ingrain with fresh capital and strategic backing, potentially enabling capacity expansion.
    • Growth will depend on the industry’s ability to diversify feedstocks, expand into speciality modified starches, and capitalise on growing demand for bio-based products.
    • Sorbitol’s growth prospects are supported by rising demand for low-calorie and sugar-free sweeteners, and continued demand for speciality ingredients.
    • Its use as a multifunctional speciality ingredient is expected to continue growing steadily.
    • Re-establishing domestic sorbitol manufacturing capacity would require capital investment, stable feedstock supply, and offtake agreements, but could strengthen supply chain resilience by reducing reliance on imports.

    Read More..
    The Starch Industry in South Africa
    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2026

    Full Report

    R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1208.20 (USD)*

    Buy Now +

    Industry Landscape

    R 14 000.00(ZAR) estimated $ 845.74 (USD)*

    Buy Now +

    Industry Organogram

    R 450.00(ZAR) estimated $ 27.18 (USD)*

    Buy Now Add to Cart

    Historical Reports

    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2023-04-19

    R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $114.78 (USD)*

    View Report Add to Cart

    Table of Contents

    [ Close ]
    PAGE
    1. INTRODUCTION 1
    2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
    2.1. Industry Value Chain 6
    2.2. Geographic Position 8
    2.3. Size of the Industry 9
    3. LOCAL 11
    3.1. State of the Industry 11
    3.2. Key Trends 14
    3.3. Key Issues 15
    3.4. Notable Players 15
    3.5. Trade 17
    3.6. Corporate Actions 24
    3.7. Regulations 24
    3.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 25
    4. AFRICA 27
    5. INTERNATIONAL 32
    6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 35
    6.1. Unforeseen Events 35
    6.2. Economic Environment 35
    6.3. Labour 36
    6.4. Environmental Issues 37
    6.5. Technology, R&D, Innovation 39
    6.6. Government Support 39
    6.7. Input Costs 40
    7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 42
    7.1. Competition 42
    7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 43
    7.3. Barriers to Entry 43
    8. INDUSTRY SUMMARY 44
    9. OUTLOOK 46
    10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 46
    11. REFERENCES 47
    11.1. Publications 47
    11.2. Websites 47
    ANNEXURE 1 49
    Legislation 49
    APPENDIX 1 52
    Summary of Notable Players 52
    COMPANY PROFILES 56
    AFRISTARCH (PTY) LTD 56
    AVCO CASSAVA FOODS (PTY) LTD 57
    AZELIS SOUTH AFRICA HOLDING (PTY) LTD 58
    BRAGAN INGREDIENTS (PTY) LTD 60
    CARGILL RSA (PTY) LTD 62
    CARST AND WALKER SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 64
    CELL-CHEM (PTY) LTD 66
    CHEMTOLL (PTY) LTD 68
    CJP CHEMICALS (PTY) LTD 69
    EDILA TWAALF (PTY) LTD 72
    GRANGE HILL INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD 74
    INGRAIN SA (PTY) LTD 76
    INGREDION SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 78
    MONTEAGLE CONSUMER GROUP (PTY) LTD 79
    NOVAWES IMPORT (PTY) LTD 81
    SAFIRE CHARKA (PTY) LTD 82
    TATE AND LYLE SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD 84
    WFM STARCH PRODUCTS (PTY) LTD 86
    ZEMCOR MARKETING (PTY) LTD 87

    Report Coverage

    This report on the manufacture of starch and starch products in South Africa includes information on the size and state of the industry including potato and cassava starch, commodity prices and inputs, notable players, agents and distributors and competition and other issues and trends. There are profiles of 13 companies including dominant player Ingrain and other producers such as Top Products and Pro Corn Mills, and importers and distributors including Cell-Chem, Bragan Ingredients and Ingredon.

    Introduction

    • Demand for starches and modified starches, which are used in various industrial applications as well as in key ingredients in food and beverages, is growing.
    • The manufacture of starches is dominated by Barloworld subsidiary Ingrain, which had a market share of almost 90% in 2021.
    • Imports account for about 20% of starch demand by value.
    • Industrial customers are concerned about significant price increases driven by record increases in commodities such as maize and wheat which are used to produce starch.
    • There is also concern that the high price of commodities, machinery and research and development act as a barrier to competitors seeking to challenge Barloworld’s near monopoly.

    Strengths

    • South Africa has a significant maize crop, which is the key raw material for starches.
    • The country has one of the oldest and biggest starch manufacturers in Africa.

    Weaknesses

    • Expensive equipment necessary for starch manufacturing makes it difficult for new competitors to enter the market.
    • The industry is characterised by a near monopoly, with Barloworld’s Ingrain claiming it had an 89% market share in 2019.

    Opportunities

    • Starch exports to the rest of Africa are expected to grow under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect in January 2021.
    • The development of cassava as a key starch input.
    • The move to more green packaging solutions in the food industry will drive starch demand.
    • There is strong demand from local manufacturers looking to replace imports with locally-sourced starches.

    Threats

    • Commodities prices.
    • Droughts and climate change which affect the size of key crops like maize and wheat, which can affect the price of starch.
    • Global events such as the Russia-Ukraine war could affect the supply and price of imported starches.
    • High starch prices could drive some industrial users to look for chemical alternatives to starch.
    • Increasing price of inputs such as water, electricity and key raw materials.
    • Loadshedding, which adds to costs of production if alternative power sources must be sourced.
    • The volatility of the rand, which affects the cost of imported starches.
    • The weakening domestic economic environment, which threatens to reduce demand.

    Outlook

    • The deteriorating local economic outlook will likely result in lower domestic sales, as consumers cut back on starch products.
    • This may be partially offset by a trend by industries to source locally-made ingredients.
    • The outlook for exports is more positive, particularly as economic growth in the rest of Africa is expected to drive starch demand.
    • Growing concerns by industrial customers over significant recent prices increases could drive consumer industries to source replacements to starches.
    • Other challenges such as loadshedding, water availability and cost of maintaining equipment could also curtail profitable growth.
    • In the long term, cassava may provide for the possible entry of new producers to the starch market.

    Read More..
    The Starch Industry in South Africa
    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2023

    Full Report

    R 1 900.00(ZAR) estimated $114.78 (USD)*

    Buy Now +

    Industry Landscape

    R 1 330.00(ZAR) estimated $ 80.35 (USD)*

    Buy Now +

    Industry Organogram

    R 450.00(ZAR) estimated $ 27.18 (USD)*

    Buy Now Add to Cart

    Historical Reports

    The Starch Industry in South Africa 2026-02-28

    R 20 000.00(ZAR) estimated $1208.20 (USD)*

    View Report Add to Cart

    Table of Contents

    [ Close ]
    PAGE
    1. INTRODUCTION 1
    2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 1
    2.1. Industry Value Chain 3
    2.2. Geographic Position 4
    2.3. Size of the Industry 5
    3. LOCAL 7
    3.1. State of the Industry 7
    3.2. Key Trends 10
    3.3. Key Issues 13
    3.4. Notable Players 13
    3.5. Trade 14
    3.6. Corporate Actions 21
    3.7. Regulations 21
    3.8. Enterprise Development and Social Development 22
    4. AFRICA 23
    5. INTERNATIONAL 24
    6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 26
    6.1. Economic Environment 26
    6.2. Labour 27
    6.3. Environmental Issues 27
    6.4. Technology, R&D, Innovation 28
    6.5. Government Support 28
    6.6. Input Costs 29
    7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 31
    7.1. Competition 31
    7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 32
    7.3. Barriers to Entry 33
    8. SWOT ANALYSIS 33
    9. OUTLOOK 34
    10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 35
    11. REFERENCES 35
    11.1. Publications 35
    11.2. Websites 35
    APPENDIX 1 37
    Summary of Notable Players 37
    COMPANY PROFILES 41
    Bragan Ingredients (Pty) Ltd 41
    Cargill RSA (Pty) Ltd 43
    Carst and Walker South Africa (Pty) Ltd 45
    Cell-Chem (Pty) Ltd 47
    CJP Chemicals (Pty) Ltd 49
    Edila Twaalf (Pty) Ltd 52
    Grange Hill Investments (Pty) Ltd 53
    Ingrain SA (Pty) Ltd 55
    Ingredion South Africa (Pty) Ltd 58
    Marketing Works CC 59
    Monteagle Consumer Group Ltd 60
    Novawes Import (Pty) Ltd 62
    Orkila South Africa (Pty) Ltd 63
    Pro Corn Mills (Pty) Ltd 65
    SAFire Charka (Pty) Ltd 66
    Tate and Lyle South Africa (Pty) Ltd 68
    WFM Starch Products (Pty) Ltd 70
    Zemcor Marketing (Pty) Ltd 71

    Stay Up to Date with the Latest Industry News in Africa

    Copyright @ 2021