Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder (Dry)
Industry PositionFood Ingredient (Starch) / Industrial Input
Market
Tapioca starch (cassava/manioc starch; commonly traded under HS 110814) in Colombia is primarily an imported food ingredient used by processors and, in some cases, sold as a packaged food raw material. UN Comtrade data via the World Bank WITS portal shows Colombia was a net importer in 2023 (imports about USD 12.7M vs exports about USD 0.64M for HS 110814). Colombia also has domestic cassava-starch extraction activity, with literature describing a concentration of cassava-starch agroindustry in the department of Cauca (including traditional sour cassava starch). Market access is shaped by Colombia’s sanitary regime for foods (INVIMA; Resolution 2674 of 2013), labeling rules for packaged foods and food raw materials (Resolution 5109 of 2005, as amended), and (where applicable) ICA phytosanitary import requirements processed through SISPAP/DRFI workflows.
Market RoleNet importer with domestic niche production and small exports
Domestic RoleImported and locally produced cassava starch supplies food manufacturing and traditional/bakery uses; domestic cassava-starch extraction is documented in Cauca (including sour cassava starch).
Specification
Packaging- For food raw materials, labeling in Colombia must include (at minimum) the raw material name, ingredient list, net content, manufacturer or importer name/address, country of origin, lot identification, expiry/minimum durability date, and storage conditions (Resolution 5109 of 2005).
- If the original imported label is not in Spanish, a complementary Spanish label is required and may be applied during or after nationalization under sanitary authority oversight (Resolution 5109 of 2005).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Domestic: cassava roots → grating/pulping → screening/colado → sedimentation → dewatering/drying → milling/sieving → packaging
- Imported: ocean freight to Colombian ports → customs/nationalization + sanitary/label compliance (as applicable) → distributor/importer warehousing → delivery to industrial users or repackers
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Colombia’s sanitary requirements (INVIMA) and mandatory labeling/Spanish labeling rules for packaged foods and food raw materials can block commercialization and trigger detention, relabeling requirements, or rejection for tapioca/cassava starch shipments.Confirm whether the product is entering as an industrial raw material or for direct consumer sale; align the INVIMA sanitary pathway (NSA/PSA/RSA where applicable) and pre-approve Spanish label content against Resolution 5109 requirements, including lot/expiry and country-of-origin fields.
Logistics MediumAs a bulk dry commodity commonly moved in containers, imported cassava/tapioca starch costs are exposed to ocean freight volatility and inland transport disruptions, affecting landed cost and buyer pricing in Colombia.Use multi-origin sourcing options, forward freight planning, and safety-stock policies for critical industrial accounts; evaluate partial substitution with qualified domestic cassava-starch suppliers where feasible.
Environmental Compliance MediumDomestic cassava-starch extraction has documented hotspots for water use and high-load wastewater generation (notably around screening/colado and sedimentation), creating reputational and regulatory risks for buyers sourcing from non-compliant plants.Require supplier evidence of effluent treatment and waste management controls; include wastewater KPIs and site-audit checkpoints in supplier qualification for Cauca-region starch sources.
Phytosanitary MediumICA may require a DRFI and origin phytosanitary documentation depending on the product’s risk category, and ICA notes DRFI validity limits and potential annulment if quarantine pest conditions change in an exporting country, which can disrupt planned shipments.Check ICA/SISPAP requirements by product presentation before contracting; align shipment windows to DRFI validity and maintain contingency origin options if requirements change.
Sustainability- Wastewater and effluent management risk in domestic cassava-starch extraction: literature identifies high water use in screening/colado and wastewater with high contaminant load from sedimentation stages, creating environmental compliance exposure if not properly treated.
- Solid residue (afrecho) management and valorization challenges in cassava-starch extraction clusters.
Labor & Social- Smallholder-based rural livelihoods are described in the Cauca cassava-starch cluster (traditional rallanderías), which can imply variable levels of formalization across operators and heightened need for supplier social compliance screening.
FAQ
Does tapioca (cassava) starch need an INVIMA sanitary registration to be imported into Colombia?It depends on how it will be commercialized. Colombia’s food sanitary framework (Resolution 2674 of 2013) establishes that foods imported for commercialization can require an INVIMA sanitary instrument (notification/permit/registration) based on public-health risk, while it also lists an exemption for foods and food raw materials imported exclusively for use by industry and the gastronomy sector. Importers typically confirm the correct pathway with INVIMA based on the exact presentation and intended use.
What labeling information is required in Colombia for packaged tapioca starch when sold as a food raw material?Resolution 5109 of 2005 sets minimum labeling items for food raw materials, including the raw material name, ingredient list, net content, manufacturer or importer name and address, country of origin, lot identification, expiry/minimum durability date, and storage conditions. If the original label is in a language other than Spanish, a complementary Spanish label is required under the same regulation.
Is Colombia mainly an importer or exporter of cassava (tapioca) starch?Colombia is a net importer based on UN Comtrade data published via the World Bank WITS portal. For HS 110814 in 2023, Colombia’s recorded imports (about USD 12.7 million) were far larger than its recorded exports (about USD 0.64 million).