Starch and cellulose derivatives: Trading
Where starch prices are reported, and why few are public
What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.Who buys, and where
- US, EU and China maize starch
- Thailand and Vietnam tapioca starch
- India maize starch
Who sells, and from where
- Food and beverage makers
- Paper and board mills
- Textile mills
- Pharma
- Fermentation plants
Price benchmarks
| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| none widely public for starch | trade press; IMARC and ChemAnalyst (paid) | monthly |
Exchanges
| Venue | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dalian Commodity Exchange | corn starch futures, 10 t (indicative) | China's starch futures; CBOT and Dalian maize futures used as hedges |
Contract types
- Annual and quarterly contracts with food and paper majors
- Spot sales to small users
- Formula pricing against maize for large buyers (indicative)
Traders and distributors
- Thai starch exporters; Indian exporters to Southeast Asia and the Middle East (indicative)
How Indian buyers price it
- Domestic prices follow Indian maize mandi prices and ethanol demand
- Exports priced against Thai tapioca and Chinese maize starch
Recent price points
| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | RMB 2,123-2,263/t | China maize (feedstock) | Faxian Gongchang 2026 |
| 2024 | about $250/t | China import unit value of cassava roots and chips (feedstock) | UN Comtrade via cassava tile |
Good sources to follow
World Bank Commodity Markets (Pink Sheet)free research site · World Bank Prospects GroupMonthly maize price
Indian Chemical Newsfree newsletter · Indian Chemical NewsIndian chemical and starch company news
Chem in Digestfree newsletter · Chem in DigestIndian chemical industry news including bio-based projects
farmdoc dailyfree blog · University of IllinoisUS maize markets that set starch costs