Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormFlour (Powder)
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (Milled Cassava Root)
Market
Cassava flour in South Korea is an import-dependent ingredient market, typically captured under HS 110620 (flour/meal/powder of sago or roots and tubers of heading 0714, which includes cassava-based flours). UN Comtrade data via WITS indicates South Korea imported about USD 1.915 million (3,600,780 kg) of HS 110620 in 2024, down from about USD 3.945 million (8,792,670 kg) in 2022. The leading origins shifted from Vietnam-dominant supply in 2022 to Peru, the United States, and China among top suppliers in 2024. Market access is tightly linked to MFDS imported-food controls, including mandatory foreign manufacturing facility registration prior to import declaration and risk-based import inspection.
Market RoleNet importer / import-dependent ingredient market
Domestic RoleImported specialty flour/ingredient used in domestic food manufacturing and retail ingredient channels
Market GrowthDeclining (2022–2024 trade data context)import value and volume contraction
SeasonalityYear-round availability via imports; no meaningful domestic harvest season applies to this product in Korea’s market context.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Codex: free from abnormal flavours/odours and living insects; free from filth at hazardous levels.
- Codex particle size guidance (Annex): fine flour — minimum 90% passing a 0.60 mm sieve; coarse flour — minimum 90% passing a 1.20 mm sieve.
Compositional Metrics- Codex moisture: 13% m/m maximum.
- Codex Annex: crude fibre maximum 2.0%; ash maximum 3.0%.
- Codex/CCCF context: maximum level for total hydrocyanic acid associated with cassava flour appears in Codex contaminant/maximum level work (10 mg/kg as total hydrocyanic acid). Importing-country legislation may apply specific limits; verify against MFDS/Korean Food Code for the exact applicable standard in Korea.
Grades- Fine flour (particle size criterion per Codex Annex)
- Coarse flour (particle size criterion per Codex Annex)
Packaging- Codex: packaged in containers safeguarding hygienic and organoleptic qualities; packaging materials must be safe and suitable.
- Codex: when packaged in sacks, sacks must be clean, sturdy, and strongly sewn or sealed.
- Codex: product name on label should be “edible cassava flour” (for Codex-aligned labeling context).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Origin milling/sifting and bagging (often sacks) → international freight → Korea Customs import declaration via UNI-PASS → MFDS import declaration/inspection steps → domestic importer/distributor → food manufacturing or retail ingredient distribution
Temperature- Ambient, dry storage is typical; moisture control is critical to prevent caking and mold/mycotoxin risk.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life performance is primarily moisture-driven; storage/transport humidity excursions can shorten usable life and trigger quality defects (caking, off-odors, mold).
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighMFDS requires pre-registration of the overseas manufacturing facility before import declaration; if pre-registration is not completed, the import declaration can be rejected, stopping the shipment at entry.Ensure the foreign facility is registered in advance via MFDS/Imported Food Information Maru and keep the registration details aligned with the product/item being declared; confirm registration timing and any updates before each shipment.
Food Safety MediumNon-compliance detected in MFDS import inspection (e.g., contaminant limits, hygiene issues, or quality deviations such as excessive moisture) can lead to delays, rejection, return, or disposal. Codex texts for edible cassava flour include moisture (13% max) and other quality factors, and Codex contaminant work references maximum levels for hydrocyanic acid associated with cassava flour (10 mg/kg total hydrocyanic acid) depending on the applicable standard context.Use a pre-shipment quality plan (COA + moisture control + mycotoxin/contaminant testing aligned to Korea/MFDS requirements); ensure packaging integrity and dry-chain controls to maintain compliance at arrival.
Logistics MediumHumidity exposure during ocean freight and inland warehousing can drive caking, off-odors, and mold risk for flour products, raising the chance of quality claims or inspection failures; freight disruption can also affect landed cost and supply continuity for bulk shipments.Specify moisture-barrier packaging (sealed, sturdy sacks/liners), use container moisture mitigation (e.g., desiccants where appropriate), and maintain buffer stock or multi-origin sourcing to manage delay risk.
FAQ
What is the biggest compliance blocker for importing cassava flour into South Korea?A key deal-breaker is MFDS foreign manufacturing facility registration: MFDS requires the overseas manufacturing facility to be registered before import declaration, and MFDS states that import declaration can be rejected if pre-registration is not done. Importers typically manage this through the Imported Food Information Maru system.
Which countries were the leading suppliers to South Korea for HS 110620 in 2024 (proxy for cassava flour trade)?UN Comtrade data via WITS shows that the top exporters of HS 110620 to South Korea in 2024 included Peru, the United States, and China (with additional smaller exports from categories such as “Other Asia, nes” and Myanmar).
What Codex quality factors are commonly referenced for edible cassava flour?Codex’s standard for edible cassava flour includes a moisture maximum of 13% and Annex guidance such as crude fibre (max 2.0%), ash (max 3.0%), and particle size criteria for fine vs. coarse flour, along with packaging guidance for clean, sturdy, sealed sacks where applicable.