Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDry (milled flour/powder)
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (milling product from cassava roots)
Market
Cassava flour in Sri Lanka is a processed root-based flour ingredient linked to domestic cassava cultivation (Manihot esculenta) and a small but observable export channel under HS 110620. Sri Lanka exported HS 110620 at a small scale in 2024, with key destinations including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Import volumes for the same HS code appear intermittent, with higher inbound volumes recorded in 2022 from India (and smaller volumes from Thailand) but minimal imports recorded in 2024. Cassava agronomy information from Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture indicates the crop can be cultivated year-round in suitable conditions, supporting potential year-round raw material availability for flour processing, subject to field disease pressure.
Market RoleSmall-scale producer and exporter with intermittent imports
Domestic RoleProcessed cassava-derived flour used as a starchy ingredient; also marketed as a gluten-free cooking and baking flour by Sri Lanka export-oriented suppliers
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
SeasonalitySri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture indicates cassava can be cultivated throughout the year under suitable conditions, implying potential year-round raw material availability for cassava flour, subject to regional planting season practices and disease pressure.
Risks
Plant Health HighSri Lanka Cassava Mosaic Virus (SLCMV) is documented by Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture as having no treatment once established and can spread via infected cuttings and whitefly vectors, creating a high risk of raw-material supply disruption for cassava flour.Source only from farms using healthy, field-tested cuttings; implement vector management and rogue/destroy diseased plants per Department of Agriculture guidance; avoid establishing new plantings near infected fields.
Regulatory Compliance MediumSri Lanka has a track record of using import control licensing and payment-term regulations for food and other goods during foreign exchange stress, which can introduce shipment risk (license timing, payment-term constraints) for import-dependent supply chains.Verify whether cassava flour (HS 110620) is subject to any active import control license requirements or payment-term constraints before shipment; align payment terms and documentation to current gazettes and bank/customs procedures.
Food Safety MediumNon-compliance with Codex compositional/hygiene expectations (e.g., moisture control) and Sri Lanka’s Food Act prohibitions on unsafe, adulterated, or misleadingly labeled food can result in detention, rejection, or enforcement actions for cassava flour consignments.Contract to Codex CXS 176-1989 parameters where relevant (including moisture maximum) and maintain a lot-based COA/traceability pack aligned to importer labeling obligations.
Logistics MediumCustoms clearance delays can occur if HS classification is disputed or if import documentation and declarations are incomplete or inconsistent with Sri Lanka Customs processes (CusDec timing, delivery order dependency).Obtain HS classification confirmation (advance ruling if needed), run a pre-shipment document reconciliation (invoice/packing list/B/L-AWB), and coordinate CusDec filing timelines with the appointed Customs House Agent.
Sustainability- Pesticide residue and contaminant compliance expectations for food: Codex refers cassava flour to general Codex contaminants/toxins and pesticide residue MRL frameworks; Sri Lanka has national food control laws and testing/inspection systems that may be applied to imported or domestically marketed food.
Labor & Social- No product-specific high-profile labor controversy is referenced in the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture cassava materials or Sri Lanka Export Development Board exporter listings used for this record; standard supplier labor due diligence and traceability checks remain prudent.
FAQ
Which HS code is commonly used for cassava flour in trade statistics for Sri Lanka?Trade statistics commonly classify cassava flour under HS 110620 (flour, meal and powder of sago or of roots or tubers of HS 0714), and Sri Lanka’s reported exports for this product code are shown under HS 110620 in UN Comtrade data accessed via WITS.
What moisture level is specified in the Codex standard for edible cassava flour?Codex CXS 176-1989 (Standard for Edible Cassava Flour) specifies a maximum moisture content of 13% m/m, with a note that lower limits may be needed depending on climate and transport/storage duration.
Where did Sri Lanka ship most of its HS 110620 exports in 2024?In 2024, Sri Lanka’s HS 110620 exports were shipped mainly to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States (UN Comtrade data via WITS).