In just eight months of 2025, China spent USD 1.27 billion importing Vietnamese cassava starch. During this period, Vietnam became the number one supplier after exporting 1.65 million tons of this white starch to the Chinese market.
According to statistics from China’s customs authorities, as of the end of August 2025, China had spent USD 1.27 billion importing 3.45 million tons of Vietnam’s cassava starch (HS code 11081400). Compared with the same period last year, the import volume surged by 42%. However, due to the decreasing prices, the import value declined slightly by 0.3%.
The main reason was a sharp drop in the average import price of cassava starch into China. Specifically, this price fell by 29.8% year on year to just USD 368.4 per ton.
Vietnamese cassava starch
In terms of market structure, Vietnam continued to affirm its position as the largest supplier of cassava starch to the Chinese market during the first eight months of 2025. During this period, it exported more than 1.65 million tons of Vietnamese cassava starch. It showed an increase of 77.7% compared with the same period in 2024.
However, due to the average import price of Vietnamese cassava starch standing at USD 354.7 per ton, export turnover reached only USD 586 million. This figure was up 23.4% year on year.
Thanks to strong growth in export volume, Vietnam’s share of China’s total cassava starch imports rose significantly. It increased from 38.2% in the first eight months of 2024 to 47.8% in the same period of 2025.
Thailand remained the second-largest supplier of cassava starch to the Chinese market, exporting 1.22 million tons. This represented an increase of 7.5% compared with the same period in 2024. The average import price of cassava starch from Thailand was USD 396.4 per ton.
Thailand’s market share of cassava starch declined noticeably over the period. It fell from 46.8% in the first eight months of 2024 to 35.42% in the same period of 2025.
China’s imports of cassava starch from Laos reached 512,380 tons, up 61.2% year on year. This volume accounted for 14.83% of the market. The average import price of cassava starch from Laos stood at USD 347.8 per ton, down 30.9%.
Meanwhile, China’s imports of cassava starch from Cambodia also recorded strong growth, reaching nearly 67,000 tons. This marked an increase of 67.7%. The average import price of cassava starch from Cambodia was USD 353.2 per ton, down 32.3%.
Top suppliers of cassava starch in Chinese market
These figures show that the structure of cassava chips and cassava starch supplies to China is undergoing a clear shift. Vietnam is expanding its market share, while Thailand is facing increasingly intense competitive pressure.
Experts believe that in the short term, Vietnamese cassava starch will continue consolidating and expanding its position in the Chinese market. This outlook is supported by advantages in pricing and geographical proximity. However, in the medium term, Laos and Cambodia may accelerate their participation in the market. They could do so with more competitive prices and more stable supply sources.
This situation requires Vietnamese tapioca enterprises to move beyond price-based advantages toward quality-based competitiveness. Accordingly, they need to invest in advanced deep-processing technologies and develop value-added products. This approach is essential in order to maintain a sustainable competitive position in the long term.