# Cassava: Criticality

Africa's drought fallback in a warming world

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/criticality/

Africa's drought fallback in a warming world What this tab covers How exposed economies are to a supply disruption: the EU, US and India listings, the concentration score, and a quantified exposure for the US, EU, India, China, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia. Where the EU scored it, a chart of supply risk against economic importance, with import reliance, recycling input and substitutes.

#### Exposure by region

| Region | Exposure | Share of world output | Share of world imports | Share of world exports | Net trade (US$) | On own critical list | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **US** | High | 0.0% | 8.8% | 0.2% | −$131.0 m | No | No commercial production; imports 8.8% of world cassava import value (2024), mainly fresh and frozen roots from Costa Rica (UN Comtrade). |
| **EU** | High | 0.0% | 4.3% | 2.1% | −$35.1 m | No | No production; the Netherlands is a small importer and re-exporter (1.4-1.5% of trade value); former feed imports ended with quota limits and lower maize prices (UN Comtrade 2024; Morgan 1979). |
| **India** | Low | 1.8% | 0.0% | 0.3% | +$4.51 m | No | Produces 6.28 Mt at world-leading yields of 35.6 t/ha (2024), uses it mainly for sago, starch and food, and trades very little (FAOSTAT; UN Comtrade). |
| **China** | High | 1.5% | 40.7% | 0.0% | −$618.9 m | No | Largest importer (40.7% of world value in 2024) for ethanol, alcohol and feed, plus 16.4 t/ha domestic yields in the south (UN Comtrade; FAOSTAT). |
| **Japan** | Low | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | −$1.53 m | No | Negligible imports of roots and chips (0.1% of world value, 2024) (UN Comtrade). |
| **Latin America** | Low | 8.1% | 0.4% | 11.1% | +$151.7 m | no list | Brazil is the fifth-largest grower (5.6% of output, 2024) for domestic food; Costa Rica exports fresh roots (FAOSTAT; UN Comtrade). |
| **Middle East** | Low | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | −$2.50 m | no list | No production and negligible imports (UN Comtrade 2024). |
| **Australia** | Low | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | −$3.86 m | No | No significant production and negligible imports (0.3% of world value, 2024) (UN Comtrade). |

 Exposure rating: **High** when the region is a net importer whose import share is at least three times its share of world output (or, for farm goods, it produces under 70% of what it consumes); **Medium** for other net importers (or 70-95% self-sufficiency), raised to High when world supply is highly concentrated in another country; **Low** for net exporters or self-sufficient regions. Net importer status uses tonnage where reported, otherwise value. Output: FAOSTAT, 2024. Trade: UN Comtrade 2024 (EU = sum of member states, including intra-EU trade). Critical lists: US 2025, EU 2024/1252, India 2023, China 2016 strategic minerals, Japan METI, Australia 2024.

Cassava is on neither the US 2025 nor the India 2023 critical list, but it is central to food security in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is a staple for many of the poorest households. Its drought tolerance makes it a fallback in bad years, which climate change may make more frequent. The risks are disease and processing. Cassava mosaic and brown streak diseases can wipe out fields, and poorly processed roots cause cyanide poisoning. Because little cassava is traded, African consumers cannot easily import their way out of a local failure.
 EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No Production HHI 797 unconcentrated

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/movement/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/cassava/links/index.md)