Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDry powder (native cassava/tapioca starch)
Industry PositionFood ingredient and industrial starch
Market
Native cassava (tapioca) starch in India is supplied largely from southern cassava cultivation, with ICAR-CTCRI describing Kerala cultivation and industrial-use oriented cassava production in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The starch is used as a food ingredient and also as an industrial input (e.g., textiles, paper, adhesives), consistent with BIS’s edible tapioca starch standard context. UN Comtrade data via WITS shows India both exports and imports cassava starch (HS 110814), indicating a mixed trade position that can vary by year; in 2023 exports were reported with the United States, Kuwait and Nepal among key destinations. For imports, market entry is governed by FSSAI’s Food Import Clearance System integrated with Customs ICEGATE, where document scrutiny and risk-based sampling/testing can delay or block non-conforming consignments.
Market RoleDomestic producer and exporter with intermittent import supplementation
Domestic RoleIndustrial and food-manufacturing input linked to southern cassava cultivation and wet-milling starch/sago clusters.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Food-grade tapioca/cassava starch is specified as a standardized edible starch product under BIS IS 1319.
Compositional Metrics- Typical COA parameters referenced in BIS IS 1319 include moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, starch content (dry basis), crude fibre, pH of aqueous extract, cold-water solubles, and sulphur dioxide.
Grades- Edible (food-grade) tapioca/cassava starch — BIS IS 1319
- Textile-use tapioca starch — BIS IS 1605 (textile auxiliary specification)
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Cassava root procurement (southern producing belts) -> washing/rasping -> wet starch extraction and separation -> dewatering/drying -> milling/sieving -> bagging -> domestic distribution and/or containerized export
Temperature- Ambient handling; protect from moisture uptake to prevent caking and quality deterioration.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life and usability are highly sensitive to moisture control during storage and transport.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighFood-grade cassava (tapioca) starch consignments can be delayed or blocked if they fail FSSAI import clearance checks (document scrutiny, inspection, and risk-based sampling/testing) or if documentation/specs are inconsistent, resulting in non-conforming outcomes and potential rejection.Align product specs and labeling/declarations to applicable Indian requirements, ensure COA/test methods match the relevant standard, and run a pre-shipment document + spec reconciliation with the importer/CHA before dispatch.
Environmental Compliance MediumDomestic supply from Tamil Nadu starch/sago clusters can face disruption risk from pollution-control enforcement (ETP performance, consent renewals, and compliance actions), which can constrain operations or trigger stoppages for non-compliance.Qualify suppliers on pollution-control consents and ETP capability; include compliance clauses and periodic verification in supplier audits.
Logistics MediumBecause native cassava starch is freight-intensive, swings in container freight rates, port congestion, and inland trucking constraints can materially affect landed cost and delivery reliability for imports/exports tied to sea freight lanes.Use forward freight planning, maintain buffer inventory for critical SKUs, and diversify ports/logistics providers where feasible.
Sustainability- Effluent and wastewater management in tapioca starch/sago wet-processing clusters (ETP performance and consent/renewal compliance with state pollution control boards).
FAQ
What HS code is typically used for manioc (cassava) starch trade reporting related to India?UN Comtrade tables published via the World Bank WITS platform report manioc (cassava) starch under HS code 110814, which is commonly used for trade reporting for cassava/tapioca starch shipments.
How are food-grade cassava (tapioca) starch imports cleared in India?FSSAI clears food imports through its Food Import Clearance System (FICS), integrated with Customs ICEGATE under the single-window process. Clearance involves document scrutiny, visual inspection, and risk-based sampling and testing before release decisions.
Is there an Indian standard that specifies quality requirements for edible tapioca (cassava) starch?Yes. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) publishes IS 1319 (Specification for Edible Tapioca Starch), which sets requirements and test parameters (such as moisture, ash, pH and sulphur dioxide) for edible tapioca/cassava starch.