Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormDry powder
Industry PositionFood Ingredient
Market
Native cassava starch (HS 110814) in Hong Kong is an import-dependent food ingredient market supplied primarily through international trade. UN Comtrade data (via WITS) indicate Hong Kong imported about US$3.47 million (5,632,640 kg) of cassava starch in 2023, led by Thailand with smaller volumes from China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Hong Kong is a free port with no customs tariff on imports/exports, but importers and distributors must comply with Food Safety Ordinance registration and transaction record-keeping requirements to support traceability and potential recall actions. For retail-prepacked packs, Hong Kong labelling rules under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulations apply, including allergen and additive-related declarations where relevant.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer and re-export hub market
Domestic RoleFood ingredient used by manufacturers, foodservice, and retail channels; domestic production is not a major feature of supply
Market Growth
Specification
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Overseas supplier → sea freight to Hong Kong → customs document control → importer/warehouse → ingredient distributor → food manufacturer/retail
Temperature- Ambient handling typical; protect from heat and moisture during storage and transport
Atmosphere Control- Humidity control is important to reduce caking risk in a hygroscopic powder product
Shelf Life- Generally long shelf-life when kept dry and sealed; moisture ingress can cause caking and quality loss
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighA food safety incident or non-compliance finding can trigger enforcement actions in Hong Kong, including food safety orders that prohibit import/supply and require recalls; starch-related incidents (e.g., illegal chemical contamination in starch-containing products linked to modified starch production) have prompted trade alerts and market testing in the past.Use registered import/distribution entities; implement supplier approval, COA-based release, and periodic third-party testing for prohibited substances/contaminants; maintain rapid recall capability supported by transaction records.
Documentation Gap MediumFailure to maintain required transaction records for imported and wholesale-supplied foods can result in offences and disrupt continuity of supply during incident investigations.Automate import/wholesale record capture (seller/buyer, quantities, origin/place of import, product description) and align retention to the Ordinance timeframes for long shelf-life foods.
Supply Concentration MediumImport sourcing is concentrated: UN Comtrade/WITS shows Thailand as the dominant supplier for Hong Kong cassava starch imports (HS 110814), so supplier-side shocks can tighten availability and raise landed costs.Qualify alternate origins and suppliers (e.g., additional Southeast Asian sources) and negotiate flexible contracting to manage supply disruption risk.
Logistics MediumOcean freight and container availability volatility can materially affect landed cost and delivery reliability for a bulky, dry ingredient shipped in bagged bulk form.Use forward freight planning, diversify carriers/routes, and maintain buffer stock in Hong Kong warehouses for critical SKUs.
FAQ
Does Hong Kong levy import tariffs on native cassava starch?Hong Kong is a free port and does not charge customs tariffs on imports or exports of goods. Customs sources note excise duties apply only to certain dutiable commodities (e.g., liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol), which does not include cassava starch.
Do importers or wholesale suppliers of cassava starch need to keep traceability records in Hong Kong?Yes. The Food Safety Ordinance introduces a food tracing mechanism that includes registration for food importers and distributors and a legal requirement to keep transaction records for imported, acquired, and wholesale-supplied food. For imported food, the import record is required at or before import, and long shelf-life foods have longer required record-retention periods.
What HS code is commonly used for cassava (manioc) starch in international trade statistics?In the HS classification, cassava (manioc) starch is reported under HS 110814.
Which countries are the main sources of cassava starch imports into Hong Kong in recent UN Comtrade data?In UN Comtrade data presented via WITS for 2023 (HS 110814), Hong Kong’s imports were led by Thailand, with additional reported imports from China, Vietnam and Indonesia.