Tapiocas starch

Starch is a heterogeneous commodity used in the manufacture of myriad food and non-food products. Market demand for starch is strongly and positively correlated with average per capita income. In India, starch and its derivatives are largely produced from Tapioca (cassava) and Rice.

Demand for starch is high from varied users like food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, packaging etc. The demand is likely to increase to 186 lakh MT by 2012. Modified starches extend the range of functionalities of native starches and make it possible to use them in many more applications than would otherwise have been possible.

The Indian installed capacity of modified starch is 35.000 tons per annum. The growth of the modified starch industry in India will be consumer driven. The changing demographic scenario in India has resulted in both a quantitative shift as well as qualitative shift in the types of products demanded by customers. This shift has resulted in an increased demand for products which require starches and more specifically, modified starches in their manufacture.

The paper industry is likely to increase its consumption of modified starch due to the increased demand for quality paper as well as the use of inferior grades of cellulosic fibers. There will be an overall increase in the demand for starches, both modified and native, particularly in the paper industry.