China expected to boost global demand for cassava starch
China has been consolidating itself as one of the main vectors of global demand for cassava starch, in a movement that combines expansion of the food industry, the search for substitutes for corn and wheat in industrial processes and, more recently, the incorporation of sustainability criteria in supply chains.
In the Asian market, cassava starch has gained ground in different applications, ranging from processed foods to industrial uses such as paper, adhesives and biodegradable packaging.
This advance is driven mainly by the growth of Chinese domestic consumption and the need to diversify raw materials in the face of the volatility of other agricultural commodities.
According to executive Aleksandro Siqueira, director of new business at Lorenz, China today plays a central role in shaping global demand for cassava derivatives.
"China is one of the largest buyers of cassava starch in the world. They use this product in a series of industrial and food applications, and this has a direct impact on the global market," he said.
The Chinese movement is not limited to increasing consumption. In recent years, the country has also started to incorporate stricter environmental requirements, especially related to the use of inputs from renewable sources and the reduction of dependence on fossil materials in packaging and industrial processes.
According to Siqueira, this change has been decisive for the advancement of cassava as a strategic raw material. "China is increasingly demanding in relation to sustainability. They no longer only look at cost, but also the environmental impact of the production chain. This favors products such as cassava, which have plant origin and are renewable", he explained.
This new regulatory and industrial positioning in China is directly linked to the country's environmental goals, which include reducing carbon emissions and expanding the use of biodegradable materials in sectors such as packaging, paper and light chemical industry.
Within this context, cassava starch begins to compete directly with corn and wheat derivatives, as well as petrochemical substitutes used in the manufacture of plastics and industrial adhesives. The versatility of the product and its plant origin make the Brazilian input more attractive in a market that is looking for alternatives with a lower environmental impact.
Siqueira also highlights that Chinese demand should not only grow in volume, but also in technical requirements and certifications. "The Chinese market is evolving quickly. It's no longer just volume, they want traceability, quality and proof of sustainability. This completely changes the level of demand for global suppliers," he said.
The expansion of Chinese demand occurs in parallel with a global scenario of supply restrictions in large Asian producers, such as Thailand and Vietnam, which face climate challenges and increased production costs. This movement opens up space for countries like Brazil, which have been expanding their participation in the international trade of cassava starch.
Brazil, according to the sector, has benefited from this global reorganization due to two main factors: agricultural competitiveness and alignment with international environmental requirements. Brazilian cassava, as it is not transgenic and has a strong basis in renewable agriculture, meets part of the new demands of markets such as China.
"Brazil is very well positioned because it offers a natural product, with a strong agricultural base and that meets new global environmental requirements. This is very important for markets like China", said Siqueira.
In addition to the growth in traditional consumption of processed foods, China is also advancing the use of vegetable starches in biodegradable packaging and sustainable industrial materials, gradually replacing petroleum-derived inputs. This movement reinforces the global trend of transition to materials with a lower environmental impact.
In this scenario, cassava stops being just an agricultural commodity and starts to play a strategic role within the green industrial transition. The combination of growing demand, demands for sustainability and diversification of applications places the Chinese market as one of the main drivers of the global starch sector in the coming years.
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Source: CNN