Tapioca starch, a versatile and widely used product, has become a significant player in Ghana’s international trade market. In 2021, Ghana emerged as both an exporter and importer of tapioca starch, with notable destinations and origins.
Exports
Ghana’s tapioca starch exports reached a value of $230,000 in 2021, positioning the country as the 34th largest exporter of this product globally. Within Ghana, tapioca starch ranked 316th among the most exported goods. Notably, the United States stood as the primary destination for Ghana’s tapioca starch exports, accounting for $123,000 in trade. Other major importers included the United Arab Emirates ($43.6k), United Kingdom ($33.7k), Italy ($12.8k), and Turkey ($5.28k).
Ghana experienced notable growth in tapioca starch exports between 2020 and 2021, with the United Arab Emirates ($33.4k), United Kingdom ($31.5k), and Turkey ($5.28k) emerging as the fastest-growing markets.
| Continent | Country | Trade Value |
| Africa | South Africa | 320 |
| Asia | United Arab Emirates | 43,641 |
| Asia | Turkey | 5,280 |
| Europe | Belgium | 744 |
| Europe | Finland | 320 |
| Europe | France | 722 |
| Europe | United Kingdom | 33,717 |
| Europe | Ireland | 4,345 |
| Europe | Iceland | 35 |
| Europe | Italy | 12,819 |
| Europe | Norway | 219 |
| North America | Canada | 3,294 |
| North America | United States | 122,971 |
| Oceania | Australia | 1,178 |
Imports
In 2021, Ghana imported a total of $660,000 worth of tapioca starch, making it the 57th largest importer of this product globally. Tapioca starch ranked as the 1633rd most imported product in Ghana during the same period. The primary sources of Ghana’s tapioca starch imports were Hong Kong ($334k) and Thailand ($326k).
Ghana experienced substantial growth in tapioca starch imports between 2020 and 2021, with Hong Kong accounting for the fastest-growing market, contributing an additional $193k to Ghana’s import volume.
| Continent | Country | Trade Value |
| Asia | Hong Kong | 334,294 |
| Asia | Thailand | 325,727 |
Tariffs
As of 2018, Ghana’s average tariff for tapioca starch stood at 9.46%. Several countries imposed relatively higher import tariffs on this product, including Angola, Burundi, Botswana, Central African Republic, and Cameroon, all of which applied a Most Favoured Nation duty rate treatment of 10%.
Conclusion
Ghana’s tapioca starch trade demonstrated both export and import growth in 2021, highlighting the country’s increasing participation in the global market. The United States, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom emerged as significant export destinations, while Hong Kong and Thailand remained key import sources. However, import tariffs presented challenges, with Ghana facing relatively high duty rates from various nations. As the tapioca starch industry continues to evolve, Ghana’s trade patterns and tariff negotiations will play crucial roles in shaping its position in the global market.
Data from BACI