# Starch and cellulose derivatives: Feedstocks

Why co-products keep a starch mill in business

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Starch is a crop product: about 1.5 t of maize or 4-5 t of cassava roots per t of starch (indicative). Maize is most of the cost, and co-products (gluten, germ, fibre) earn back a large part of it. Plants must sit near maize or cassava supply. Cellulose derivatives use wood pulp or cotton linters, so they follow pulp and cotton prices.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Mz Maize](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/maize/) | about 1.5 t per t starch (indicative) | starch source | about 70-80% of cash cost before co-product credits (indicative) | indicative; maize tile |
| [Csv Cassava](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/) | about 4-5 t per t starch (indicative) | starch source in Thailand, Vietnam and Tamil Nadu | most of cash cost | cassava tile; indicative |
| [Wh Wheat](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/wheat/) | not published | starch and gluten in Europe and Australia | large | indicative |
| [Po Potatoes](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/potatoes/) | not published | potato starch in Europe | large | indicative |
| [Tm Timber](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/lumber/) | about 0.5-0.7 t per t CMC (indicative) | cellulose source for ethers | significant (indicative) | indicative |
| [Ct Cotton](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cotton/) | not published | high-purity cellulose for ethers | significant (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

US and Chinese maize wet millers and Thai cassava mills are lowest cost; Indian millers compete on cheap labour and growing maize output but face ethanol-driven maize prices (Mordor via GII).

#### Raw materials on the commodity table
[Mz Maize](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/maize/)[Csv Cassava](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/)[Tm Timber](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/lumber/)[Ct Cotton](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cotton/)

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [Cit Citric acid](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/citric_acid/) | glucose is the fermentation feedstock |
| [Lys Amino acids (lysine, methionine)](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/amino_acids/) | glucose feeds lysine and threonine fermentation |
| [PLA Lactic acid and PLA](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lactic_acid_pla/) | glucose feeds lactic acid fermentation |
| [Fd Food and feed additives](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/food_additives/) | modified starches and maltodextrins are texturants |
| [Con Construction chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/construction_chemicals/) | cellulose and starch ethers in mortars and tile adhesives |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/starch_derivatives/links/index.md)