South Korea Corn Starch Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

South Korea Corn Starch Market Outlook

The South Korea corn starch market size was valued at 0.59 million tons in 2023. The market is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.30% between 2024 and 2032, reaching a value of 0.73 million tons by 2032.

Key Takeaways

• Per capita, Korean households spent 13.3% of their total expenditures on dining out.

• In 2021, South Korea exported corn starch worth USD 8.73 million in Malaysia

• In 2021, South Korea became the 18th largest exporter of corn starch globally

Cornstarch is a very fine white powder and a gluten-free starch derived from the endosperm of the corn kernel, commonly used as a thickening agent in cooking. To use cornstarch as a thickening agent, it is typically mixed with a lower-temperature liquid to form a paste or slurry, and then added to the hot liquid. It is used in a variety of culinary applications, including sauces, gravies, soups, and desserts. It is also used in non-culinary household applications, such as for soothing irritated skin, detangling knots, and treating cloth stains.

The consumer’s demand for corn starch is rapidly increasing in food and beverages industry because it helps meet daily nutritional requirements of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, fibre, and minerals. Meanwhile the producers use corn starch as an anticaking agent for food products. Corn starch can also be used in paper manufacturing, textiles, adhesive and acrylic materials, and pharma industry. It is used in paper mill industries as a wet end additive, surface sizing agent, coating agent, and binder. It helps in increasing paper strength, stiffness, and printing quality of the paper. Thus, South Korea corn starch market growth can be attributed to its strong demand from the food and beverage industry, textiles, paper and pulp, and pharmaceuticals industries.

Key Trends and Developments

Rising tourism in the country, increasing online food orders, and rising export of corn starch are propelling the market growth

January 2024

Roquette acquired three corn-starch production sites of Riddhi Siddhi Gluco Biols Ltd, an Indian starch manufacturing company. The acquisition will enable Roquette to become the first international player in India in the starch industry.

October 2023

Ingredion Inc. launched a clean label native starch product called Novation indulge 2940. It is a minimally processed and label-friendly ingredient that meets the demands of health-conscious consumers of dairy products.

February 2023

POSCO International Corp., a South Korean commodities trader, partnered with Daesang Corporation to scale up its starch sweetener business. This agreement might ensure a stable supply of raw materials for starch sweeteners.

June 2021

Cargill invested in speciality roll-dried starches at its Sas van Gent facility in the Netherlands. The investment aimed to improve the production process and capacity to produce Cargill's speciality functional starch portfolio.

Rising tourism in the country

The rising tourism in South Korea, especially Seoul has increased the consumption levels of some Korean dishes which are available as local cuisine. All these dishes require corn starch as a main ingredient. This is one of the key South Korea corn starch market trends.

Increasing online food orders

Korean households’ monthly per capita spending on dining out has continued a solid growth for several consecutive years and most of the Korean food has corn starch. Hence, the increased online food orders are anticipated to increase the South Korea corn starch market share.

Rising export of corn starch

Corn starch, with its diverse applications, is often exported to international markets, which, in turn is fostering South Korea corn starch market development. According to a report by OEC, South Korea exported USD 19.2 millions of corn starch in 2021.

Abundant production of corn

Corn is one of the widely grown crops in South Korea. Having a substantial domestic production of corn ensures a stable and consistent supply of corn starch to various industries, such as food and beverages for enhancing food texture and pharmaceuticals for tablet and capsule production.

In South Korea, the industrial zones  house a concentration of manufacturing facilities, including food processing, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. The major urban centres, including Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, are primary distribution hubs for food products due to their rapidly increasing tourism rate and high population density. International trade hubs, like Incheon, serve as critical points for the import of raw materials and the export of finished food products. These regions contribute significantly to the overall consumption and distribution network of various food products, including corn starch.

South Korea corn starch market demand is increasing because of the changing food consumption patterns, expansion of the retail market, and the easy availability of corn starch and its products through various sales channels. However, the market faces restraints such as the availability of substitutes like pea starch and rice starch, as well as increasing consumer concerns about the negative effects of a starch-rich diet. On the contrary, the rise in popularity for resistant corn starch and clean label products is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for South Korea corn starch market expansion.

Market Segmentation

South Korea Corn Starch Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Native Starch

• Modified Starch

• Sweeteners

Market Breakup by Application

• Food and Beverages

• Animal Feed

• Textiles

• Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals

• Paper and Corrugates

• Others

Sweeteners contribute to market growth due to its increasing demand from food and beverage industry

Amongst the various types of corn starch available, corn starch sweeteners are anticipated to lead the South Korea corn starch market share in the forecast period. These sweeteners are widely adopted by South Korea’s food and beverage industry because of its requirement in various Korean dishes like bibimbap and ramen, along with high shelf life and cost effectiveness as compared to the other sweeteners like sugar, sugarcane, and beetroot.

According to South Korea corn starch market report, the modified corn starch segment is expected to witness the fastest growth rate throughout the forecast period. This growth is ascribed to the rise in adoption of modified corn starch as emulsifiers in the food and beverage industry, as binders in the paper industry, and as disintegrants in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, these types of starch enhance texture, viscosity, and shelf life of soft drinks, confectionery, and processed foods, which is also driving the growth of the market.

Food and beverage industry holds a significant market share due to increasing use of corn starch as a thickening agent

According to the South Korea corn starch market analysis, the food and beverages industry is expected to dominate due to the increasing consumption of corn starch and good yield of corn crops. The increasing demand for convenience and gluten-free products, as well as the expanding food service sector, are other key factors contributing to the growth of this segment. The rising popularity of natural and organic products, as well as the growing awareness among consumers regarding the benefits of clean-label ingredients, is also propelling the corn starch market in South Korea.

In the animal feed sector, corn starch serves as a valuable ingredient, contributing to balanced diets for livestock, poultry, and pets due to its high fibre content, which keeps them fuller for a longer duration. The textiles industry benefits from corn starch, particularly in the form of modified starch, which is extensively used for sizing and finishing processes, enhancing the strength and quality of textiles.

Moreover, the paper and corrugates segment leverages corn starch for its adhesive and binding properties, improving the printability and structural integrity of paper products and enhancing adhesive strength in corrugated boards. This segmentation reflects the versatility of corn starch applications in South Korea, addressing its high demand and supply.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the South Korea corn starch market is characterised by dynamic market players engaged in product development and collaboration initiatives to gain a competitive edge.

Daesang Corporation was founded in 1956 and is a South Korean company that produces food flavourings, fermentations, sweeteners, starches, coffee, fodder, and bulk pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition to producing a variety of foods, it is one of the largest fermentation companies in the world.

Cargill, Incorporated was founded in 1865 and is an American multinational food corporation based in Minnesota. Cargill's a supplier of agricultural products, production of grains and oil seeds as well as services to farmers and risk management solutions. It offers products for animal nutrition, biofuels, meat, and poultry, as well as food and other goods.

Ingredion Inc. was established in 1906 and is in Illinois, United States. The company primarily produces starches, non-GMO sweeteners, stevia, and pea protein and supplies these products in over one hundred countries. The company is committed to sustainability and has been recognised for its efforts in clean labelling and social and governance initiatives.

Other key players included in the South Korea corn starch market analysis are CJ CheilJedang Corp., KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH, and Roquette Frères S.A., among others.

Key Highlights of the Report