Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Cassava (mandioca; Manihot esculenta) is widely cultivated across Brazil and is heavily oriented toward domestic processing into farinha (flour) and starch (amido/fecula). Dried cassava in trade terms is typically captured under HS 071410 (manioc, fresh or dried, including pellet form), and Brazil’s export volumes in this HS line are small relative to major global suppliers. Industrial cassava processing is notably clustered in southern regions such as Paraná, where a significant share of Brazil’s cassava starch industry is concentrated. A critical near-term disruption risk is the spread of cassava witches’ broom disease, which has triggered phytosanitary emergency declarations in parts of the North.
Market RoleMajor producer and domestic processor; minor exporter (HS 071410)
Domestic RoleStaple crop and industrial feedstock; large domestic processing into farinha and starch
Market GrowthMixed (recent years (contextual))processing demand (flour/starch/feed) is material, while export volumes in HS 071410 remain comparatively small
Specification
Physical Attributes- Moisture control is a core acceptance parameter for dried cassava chips/pellets; FAO references ~13–15% moisture as a practical target range for long-term storage stability in dried chips.
- Foreign matter/soil and peel carryover can reduce quality and increase contamination risk; rapid drying after harvest supports product quality.
Compositional Metrics- Cyanogenic glucosides (HCN potential) are inherent to cassava and must be reduced through processing (e.g., peeling, soaking where applicable, drying) to meet food/feed safety expectations.
Packaging- Dried chips may be packed in jute or polyethylene bags; pellets are used to reduce volume and improve handling for transport and bulk logistics.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Farm harvest → (optional) washing/peeling → slicing/chipping → drying (sun or mechanical) → bagging → (optional) hammer-milling & pelletizing → domestic industrial users and/or export shipment
Temperature- Temperature control is generally less critical than moisture control for dried cassava; prevent re-wetting during drying and storage.
Atmosphere Control- Ventilation and humidity management during drying and storage are important to prevent mold growth and quality loss.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life stability depends strongly on achieving sufficiently low moisture and preventing re-wetting; interrupted sun-drying and rewetting can degrade final chip/pellet quality.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Phytosanitary HighCassava witches’ broom (Vassoura-de-bruxa da mandioca; Rhizoctonia/Ceratobasidium theobromae) is a high-destruction-potential disease in Brazil, with MAPA declaring phytosanitary emergency (2025) for affected states (e.g., Amapá and Pará). This can disrupt supply availability and trigger tighter quarantine scrutiny and buyer restrictions on origin.Implement origin-level traceability and biosecurity; avoid sourcing planting material from affected zones; monitor MAPA/Embrapa updates and require disease-risk attestations from suppliers.
Logistics MediumDried cassava chips/pellets are freight-intensive bulk goods; export margins and delivered cost can be sensitive to ocean freight and inland transport volatility, and quality can degrade if shipments are exposed to moisture.Use moisture-barrier packaging/liners as needed, verify moisture specs pre-shipment, and favor pelletized formats where appropriate to improve handling and reduce volume.
Food Safety MediumCassava contains cyanogenic glucosides (HCN potential); inadequate processing (peeling/soaking where used, drying) can leave unsafe residual cyanide levels, creating shipment rejection or buyer recall risk for food and certain feed uses.Adopt validated processing controls (including rapid drying and, for bitter types, soaking practices where applicable) and use routine testing/COAs aligned to buyer and destination-market requirements.
Sustainability- Disease-driven yield shocks and replanting needs can increase land-use pressure in affected regions; prioritize certified planting material and biosecurity to avoid expanding planted area as a coping strategy.
Labor & Social- High participation of smallholder/family-farm producers increases the need for practical supplier development (seed/planting material quality, extension) and for documented traceability where buyers require due diligence.
FAQ
Which trade code is commonly used for dried cassava from Brazil?Dried cassava is commonly captured under HS 071410, which covers manioc (cassava) fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, including sliced forms and pellets. Because HS 071410 aggregates fresh and dried, trade statistics at HS6 may not cleanly isolate dried-only shipments.
What is the single most critical disruption risk for Brazil’s cassava supply chain right now?Cassava witches’ broom disease (Vassoura-de-bruxa da mandioca) is a major risk: Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) declared a phytosanitary emergency in 2025 for affected northern states such as Amapá and Pará, reflecting the disease’s potential to cause severe production losses and trigger tighter quarantine scrutiny.
What documents are commonly needed to export cassava products from Brazil when phytosanitary certification is required by the buyer?Exporters typically prepare standard shipping documents (commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading) and may need to file the Declaração Agropecuária de Trânsito Internacional (DAT) under MAPA/Vigiagro processes. If the destination requires it, an official phytosanitary certificate is issued by MAPA, with electronic issuance supported through ePhyto/SHIVA (or SIGVIG 3 when ePhyto is not available for the specific product/destination).