In the global market for tapioca starch, Vietnam has emerged as one of the leading and influential players. The country’s high capacity and modern production line for cassava starch make it a compelling choice to buyers worldwide. In this article, we will delve into the reasons why opting for Vietnam tapioca starch is a wise and strategic decision for businesses operating in the food and industrial sectors. By examining the numerous advantages and benefits of Vietnam manioc starch , we aim to provide valuable insights that will help buyers make informed choices in their procurement process.

1. High output of cassava

Vietnam’s tapioca starch industry is renowned for its high output, driven by a combination of favorable agricultural conditions and efficient production practices. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam, the country has consistently ranked among the top global producers of cassava with nearly 10.7 million tons of cassava roots in 2022. This significant production volume places Vietnam at the forefront of tapioca starch production, ensuring a stable and abundant supply for both domestic and international buyers.

Vietnam cassava production from 2005-2016. Source: Ceicdata

One of the key factors contributing to Vietnam’s high output of cassava starch is its favorable agricultural environment. The country’s southern provinces, in particular, are famous for theirs optimal conditions for tapioca cultivation. These provinces benefit from fertile soil, favorable climate, and abundant water resources. This combination of factors creates an ideal ecosystem for tapioca plants to thrive and yield abundant crops. They are also the plantation based where you can get materials at good price. In fact, most of tapioca starch factories are located in the South of Vietnam.

In addition, the MARD has been instrumental in promoting the development of the tapioca starch industry in Vietnam. Through various initiatives, including research and development programs, farmer training, and technology transfer, the ministry has helped enhance the productivity and quality of tapioca crops.

Farmers are happily collecting cassava roots in Vietnamese cassava harvest this year. Source: Viego Global Team

2. Qualified manufacturers with export certifications

When it comes to sourcing Vietnam tapioca starch, it is crucial to partner with qualified manufacturers who prioritize production and adhere to strict quality standards. Vietnam’s cassava starch industry is home to a plenty of such millers. They possess necessary certifications and accreditations from reputable organizations which enable them to penetrate numerous global markets.

Vietnam’s tapioca starch factories undergo thorough testing and inspection procedures to ensure compliance with both domestic and international regulations. This includes examinations of raw materials, production processes, and final products. By adhering to these strict standard, manufacturers ensure that their products adhere to global export quality.

To learn more about how to buy directly from reliable tapioca starch millers in Vietnam, you could refer to this blog in our Vietnam’s tapioca market series.

3. Good Quality for Food and Industrial Sectors

In the food industry, Vietnam tapioca starch serves as a versatile ingredient with a wide range of applications. Its high purity, fine texture, and neutral taste make it an ideal thickening agent, stabilizer, and texturizer in various food products. Whether it’s used in sauces, soups, dressings, or bakery items, Vietnam tapioca starch enhances the texture, consistency, and overall sensory experience of the final food product.

In the industrial sector, Vietnam cassava starch showcases its reliability as an essential ingredient. Its abilities to create strong bonds, provide viscosity, and improve product characteristics make it indispensable in various manufacturing processes of many industries, such as paper, textile, pharmaceuticals, and adhesives. The consistent quality of Vietnam tapioca starch ensures that it performs reliably, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial operations.

In the government’s effort of promoting the development of the cassava industry in Vietnam, the farmers receive guidance on best practices, including soil management, pest control, and efficient irrigation methods. These efforts not only ensure higher yields but also improve the overall quality of tapioca roots, resulting in high quality of tapioca starch.

4. Competitive Pricing Compared to Regional Counterparts

One of the key advantages of choosing Vietnam tapioca starch is its competitive pricing, which offers significant cost benefits compared to other sources in Southeast Asia.

Several factors contribute to Vietnam’s ability to offer competitive pricing in the tapioca starch market. Firstly, Vietnam benefits from favorable cultivation conditions, including rich soils, abundant water supply, and a conducive climate, which result in high yields and lower production costs. This advantage allows manufacturers to acquire tapioca roots at a favorable price, reducing the overall production expenses.

Furthermore, Vietnam’s tapioca starch manufacturers are strategically located in the South of Vietnam, where tapioca plantations are concentrated. This proximity to the source of raw materials significantly reduces transportation costs, as manufacturers can directly source the tapioca roots from nearby farms. By minimizing transportation expenses, Vietnam manufacturers can pass on the cost savings to buyers, offering tapioca starch at a competitive price point.

Compared to other countries in the same region, Vietnam’s competitive pricing offers an advantage. Buyers can expect to secure high-quality tapioca starch at a cost that aligns with their budgetary requirements. This cost advantage positions Vietnam as an attractive sourcing option for for buyers in search of cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/

Vietnam tapioca starch market has been rapidly growing over the years, with the country emerging as one of leading producers and exporters of industrial-grade native manioc  starch. Sourcing tapioca starch from Vietnam could potentially be an ideal choice due to competitive pricing and high-quality products. However, shipping bulk quantities of this product from Vietnam can be a complex process, with various regulations, packaging requirements, and logistical challenges to navigate. If you’re looking to trade in this market, it’s essential to know the benefits and drawbacks of international trade in Vietnam’s tapioca starch market. This essential guide will cover the following.

1. Optimal shipping mode for Vietnam industrial-grade native tapioca starch

When shipping industrial-grade native tapioca starch from Vietnam, one of the main factors to consider is the high volume of goods typically involved in each shipment. For this reason, sea freight is often the most practical and cost-effective shipping mode. When it comes to deciding between 20ft and 40ft containers, the choice will depend on several factors, including the volume of goods you’re buying, transportation costs, and destination port. In fact, 20ft container is more common and ideal for volume in each shipment of industrial-grade tapioca starch.

Another essential factor to consider when shipping industrial-grade native tapioca starch is packaging. Popular packaging options for this product are typically 500/850 kg jumbo bags and 50-kg PP bags, as they provide a suitable size and weight for bulk shipments while remaining manageable for loading and unloading. In addition, it’s essential to make sure that your packaging is of high quality and meets all relevant safety standards to ensure the safe and efficient transport.

Nevertheless, depending on customers’ specific needs, countries’ regulations and circumstances, shipping mode and packaging can be customized to meet clients’ request.

Watch more here: Loading tapioca/cassava/manioc starch in 850-kg jumbo bags at port.

2. Most popular delivery terms to ship industrial-grade native tapioca starch from Vietnam

The shipping trade terms or “Incoterms” for shipping cassava starch from Vietnam vary based on the forwarder and their service. There are a lot of Incoterms but here in Vietnam, the manioc starch trade mostly uses three basic contract conditions: FOB, CIF, and CFR. The following is a list of the most used terms for shipping Vietnam industrial-grade cassava starch:

FOB (Free on Board) from Vietnam

Free on Board shipping simply means that Vietnamese supplier is in charge of the shipment until the shipment is loaded on the international port of departure. The responsibility falls on you, and/or your freight forwarder to arrange the rest of the shipment.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, And Freight) from Vietnam

Under the CIF Intercom, the seller is responsible for your cassava starch until they are exported to a port named in the sales contract and are fully loaded onto a transport ship. CIF shipping tends to include insurance as well.

CFR (Cost and Freight) from Vietnam

CFR shipping is an international shipping intercom that features the benefits of CIF shipping, without the required insurance.

3. Shipping documents

Not only in Vietnam but also all over the world, tapioca starch transactions are carried out by transfer of title rather than by the physical handing over of tapioca starch. Title to goods is represented by the bill of lading, accompanied by a set of additional documents, together known as the shipping documents. In Vietnam, industrial-grade native tapioca starch is not an export prohibited item or an export restriction. Therefore, the company can carry out normal commercial export procedures, without having to apply for an export license. The following are additional documents to ship Vietnam industrial-grade native cassava starch that shall be requested by authorities.

• Bill of Lading: A document issued by a carrier that serves as a proof that you’ve legalized the transfer and allow you to unload your shipment on the destination port.
• Invoice: A document that details the products or services provided, including the price and quantity.
• Packing List: A document that lists the contents of a shipment, including the quantity and description of each item.
• Certificate of Quality and Quantity can be issued by the Seller or third party: A document that certifies the quality and quantity of the goods being shipped, which can be issued by either the seller or a third party.
• Certificate of Origin: A document that certifies the origin of the goods being shipped. All countries that signed a Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam can benefit from a CO because it qualifies them for tax exemptions upon import.
• Phytosanitary Certificates: A document that certifies that plants and plant products being shipped comply with regulations regarding the control of pests and diseases.
• Fumigation Certificate (If any): A document certifying that a fumigation process to eliminate pests from wood pallets has been conducted prior to shipment. This is applied for industrial tapioca starch with jumbo packaging type, which requires pallets in container stuffing.

4. Native Tapioca starch export tax & HS CODE in Vietnam

• HS CODE: 1108.1400
• Export tax: 0%

Find out more on the Vietnam’s national portal for importing and exporting goods.

5. Shipping ports in Vietnam

Vietnamese ports are located throughout the nation, in the North, Central, and Southern, giving Vietnamese factories an advantage in fast shipping their merchandise internationally. Along its 3,200km-long coastline, the country has a total of 34 seaports serving an important role in global trade. Let’s take a look at these the largest ports of Vietnam – Saigon port (south), Hai Phong port (north), and Da Nang port (central):

Cat Lai Port – Ho Chi Minh City

Port code: VNSGN

Tan Cang – Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, with a total area of 160 hectares of yards, 2,040m of berth, loading and unloading equipment, and advanced management technology, is the largest and most modern port in Vietnam. Cat Lai port stands in the TOP 21 largest and most modern container ports in the world. Currently, being the country’s largest port, Cat Lai port of Ho Chi Minh City has a capacity of 6.4 million TEUs/year. The volume of goods passing through this port accounts for about 85% of the southern ports and 50% of the whole country.

Hai Phong Port – Hai Phong City

Port code: VNHPH

Hai Phong Port is currently the shipping hub of northern Vietnam. Well connected with southern China, along the Vietnamese northern economic corridor, and close to Hanoi, the port lies in a convenient location for international transport. Hai Phong Port has an advanced network system with the newest technology. Its container yard area includes over 700,000 m2, and the port capacity is 10 million tons of cargo per year.

Da Nang Port – Da Nang City

Port code: VNDAD

Lying at one end of the East–West Economic Corridor, an economic corridor connecting Vietnam with Laos, Thailand, and Burma, Da Nang Port is the third largest port system in Vietnam. With the total area of nearly 300,000 m2, the port is currently serving an increasing number of large cruise ships docking. The port is undergoing a huge upgrading, including expanding Tien Sa Port in to boost the capacity of receiving ships and increase the warehouse area up to 50ha. The expansion of Tien Sa port will contribute to making Da Nang port a modern facility able to accommodate container and tourist ships with high loading capacities.

Here is the list of other big international seaports in Vietnam:

• Vung Tau Port – Vung Tau city
  Port code: VNVUT
• Quy Nhon Port – Quy Nhon city
  Port code: VNUIH
• Quang Ninh Port – Ha Long city
  Port code: VNQNH
• Cua Lo Port – Vinh city
  Port code: VNNGT
• Dung Quat Port – Quang Ngai province
  Port code: VNDQT

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/

When importing cassava starch from tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam, for both industrial and food-grade ones, it is of great importance to verify and control the quality of the cassava products they offer. It is essential to ensure that the factories you are sourcing from has the necessary certifications and is compliant with the relevant regulations to avoid any potential legal or reputational risks. As a result, checking specific documents/quality certificates for tapioca starch is a crucial step in Vietnam manioc starch sourcing. To help you sourcing quality industrial and food-grade cassava starch in Vietnam, we’ve created a list of required documents, international quality certifications and standards that good-quality ones conform to. In this essential guide, we’ll go through documents you need to know when importing industrial- and food-grade tapioca starch from Vietnam cassava millers.

I. For Industrial-grade Tapioca starch

There’re no specific certificates required for importing industrial-grade tapioca starch. Nevertheless, to make sure the tapioca starch can be used in the production line, checking the specification or asking for testing samples is essential. Depending on the industries that you are working on, the required cassava starch can be different in some indices. For example, in paper industry, whiteness is the one that shall be carefully considered.

Most common specification for industrial-grade cassava starch is as below:

• Starch: 85% min
• Moisture: 13% max
• Ash: 0.2% max
• PH: 5.0 – 7.0
• Viscosity: 650 BU min
• SO2: 30PPM max
• Whiteness: 90% min
• Thin: 99.5% min

Despite no specific quality certification required, there are documents that shall be requested when importing Vietnamese industrial-grade manioc starch:

• Bill of lading
• Invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of quality and quantity
• Certificate of origin
• Phytosanitary Certificates
• Fumigation Certificate (in case of using wood pallets for 500/850-kg jumbo bags)

Industrial-grade Cassava Starch in 850-kg jumbo bags are loaded on pallets from the truck. Source: Viego Global team

II. For food-grade tapioca starch

In case of food-grade tapioca starch, besides above-mentioned documents, there are more certificates that can be required when importing this product. To be specific, each region or country can ask for different and compulsory certifications demonstrating that cassava starch manufacturers commit to food safety and quality standards during production. Keep reading to learn about these certifications.

1. ISO 9001:2015 Certification

ISO 9001:2015 certification is a globally recognized standard that defines the standards for a quality management system (QMS). The certification aims to ensure that the organization consistently meets customer and regulatory requirements while enhancing customer satisfaction through the effective application of the system. This certification is issued by an independent certification body, which audits the supplier’s quality management system and determines whether it meets the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.

If tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam obtain ISO 9001:2015 certification, it ensures that the manufacturers have a quality management system in place to consistently produce high-quality tapioca starch products that meet customer and legal standards. The certification covers various aspects of the manufacturing process, such as product design, production, delivery, and customer service.

A native tapioca starch miller in Vietnam. Source: Viego Global team.

2. HALAL Certification

HALAL Certification is the document issued by the Muslim authority of the exporting country in which it guarantees that the features and quality of the products fulfill the requirements established by the Islamic Law. This certification is important for exporters because it allows them to access and tap into the lucrative Halal market, which is estimated to be worth trillions of dollars globally.

Therefore, when importing cassava starch to such regions, remember check whether tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam have HALAL certification. Once the tapioca starch has been certified Halal, it can be sold to Muslim consumers who adhere to Halal dietary requirements with confidence that it meets the necessary standards. Cassava starch that are HALAL certified are often marked with a registered trademark Halal logo on their packaging.

Some HALAL certified logo. 

3. GFSI Schemes

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is a collaboration between some of the world’s leading food safety experts, who work together to improve food safety management systems and processes around the world. GFSI recognizes several food safety certification schemes, including:

• British Retail Consortium (BRC) Global Standards
• Safe Quality Food (SQF) Program
• International Featured Standards (IFS)
• FSSC 22000

In terms of tapioca starch, the certifications most applicable are BRC Global Standards and FSSC 2200. Both are widely used in the EU and is accepted by major retailers and food service companies. If you are looking for Vietnamese source of food-grade tapioca starch for European market, it is compulsory to find a tapioca starch millers that obtained one of these GFSI certifications. Therefore, carefully checking cassava starch manufacturers is very crucial.

GFSI benchmarked schemes

4. Koshers Certification

Tapioca starch can be certified Kosher, meaning it meets the dietary requirements of Jewish law. To be considered kosher, tapioca starch must be produced and processed according to strict guidelines that follow Jewish dietary laws, known as kashrut. Jewish communities exist in many countries around the world, including the United States, Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Africa, and many others.

When a tapioca starch product has been certified kosher, it will be labeled with the kosher certification symbol of the organization that certified it. It’s important to note that not all tapioca starch products are kosher certified, so it’s essential to check the packaging or the company’s website for the kosher certification symbol if you are looking for a kosher product.

Kosher certified logo

For both industrial- and food-grade tapioca starch sourcing, it is extremely important to check all information about cassava starch factories in Vietnam. Any missing details can bring about problems during import process at first and in production line then. Hence, finding trusted Vietnamese cassava starch millers is such a top priority before doing any other steps. Find out more here How to buy tapioca starch in bulk directly from reliable tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/

Being one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of tapioca starch, Vietnam offers incredible business opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners all over the world to import tapioca products. There are several ways to source tapioca starch from Vietnam, but one that you should absolutely consider is buying in bulk directly from tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam. This article was written to help you get acquainted with the international trade in Vietnam’s tapioca market. This crucial manual will cover the following:

1. Is factory-direct sourcing always the best option?

While buying large volume directly from tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam can be a good choice, it may not always be the best option for everyone. There are pros and cons to consider when choosing to work directly with millers and factories.

The advantage of tapioca starch manufacturer-direct sourcing is the ability to establish a direct relationship with the manufacturer. This can lead to better communication and faster turnaround times for orders.

However, there are also potential disadvantages to consider. For example, it may be difficult to navigate the sourcing process, particularly if you are new to the industry or are not familiar with the market. Working directly with a manufacturer can also require a significant investment of time and resources, including sourcing, quality control, and logistics management. Furthermore, you may encounter language barriers when buying in Vietnam as most local factories are not good at English.

Vietnamese farmers harvesting their cassava roots in 2023 cassava crop. Source: Viego Global Team

2. How to buy tapioca starch in bulk directly from Vietnam cassava factories?

Knowing where cassava (also known as manioc or yuca) is cultivated in Vietnam

Vietnam cassava-growing regions should be your first focus. In most case, the factories are located in provinces that cultivate cassava plants because right after harvesting the roots, producers must process their cassava quickly to ensure highest quality. Therefore, the secret to getting the best Vietnam cassava is understanding where this plant is cultivated. Check out this map of cassava-production area in Vietnam:

Dot map distribution of cassava plantations across Vietnam. Source: Springerlink

Cassava plant is cultivated a lot in the following provinces:

•   In the South: Tay Ninh Province, Binh Phuoc Province, Dong Nai Province, Binh Thuan Province.
•   In the Central Highlands: Gia Lai Province, Daklak Province, Dak Nong province.
•   In the Central Coast: Quang Ngai Province, Binh Dinh Province, Phu Yen Province, Quang Nam Province, Nghe An Province, Quang Tri province.
•   In the North (smaller quantity compared to the South & Central Coast): Yen Bai Province, Son La Province, Hoa Binh Province.

Research potential cassava millers/factories

Start by researching potential tapioca starch manufacturers in Vietnam online or through industry associations and trade shows. You should look for manufacturers with a proven track record of quality, reliability, and responsiveness. You can also ask for recommendations from other businesses in your industry.

Here are some cassava trade shows in Vietnam that may be helpful in sourcing tapioca starch directly from manufacturers:

1. Vietnam Foodexpo: This is an annual international trade show focused on food and beverage products in Vietnam. It attracts a wide range of exhibitors, including cassava manufacturers and exporters.
2. Agri Vietnam: This is an annual trade show focused on the agriculture industry in Vietnam. It includes a wide range of exhibitors, including cassava growers, processors, and exporters.
3. Vietnam Manufacturing Expo: This is an annual trade show focused on manufacturing industries in Vietnam, including food and beverage processing. It may attract cassava manufacturers and processors as exhibitors.

Attending these events or connecting with these associations may help you to network with potential suppliers and learn more about the cassava industry in Vietnam.

Vietnam Food Expo 2022. 

Why shall we check manufacturers carefully and How to inspect them

Tapioca starch is usually used as raw material type for various industries, both food and non-food ones. Therefore, volume for each tapioca starch order is always very big to meet demand of manufacturers/mills.

Being the input of production line, it is required that tapioca starch shall be qualified not only in quality but also the quantity. Without a careful research process, any mistakes in choosing the tapioca starch suppliers can put factories in hard situations, such as lower-quality finished product, disruption in production line, etc.

Once you’ve identified potential factories list, you may need to vet them as much as possible before you decide to work with them. Therefore, setting up a list of must-have criteria for choosing partners is of great importance. They all go around these invaluable questions:

• Be aware that not all millers or factories in Vietnam have infrastructure to prepare cassava starch for shipping. Ask them if the products you decided to buy are ready for exporting. Is it passed through all test that qualify export standard?
• Check the volume that they can supply per month or year to ensure that your production line is maintained throughout the whole year
• Make sure that it is stored in a safe place. Confirm storage practices. Tapioca can lose significant quality when they are not stored properly. And it can completely change the quality of the final product.
• Which currencies are you negotiating your price? USD, Euro or VND? Remember to keep it in mind as currencies in developing countries fluctuates a lot.
• All about the payment. How and when do you pay your products? Directly at the factories or once it arrived at your warehouses.
• Have a look at contracts, insurances, and responsibility; How do you manage if the product loses quality during the shipping? Who will pay for it?

By asking these questions, you can get a better understanding of the manufacturer’s capabilities, quality standards, and level of customer service. It’s important to have open and clear communication with them to ensure a successful corporation.

3. Is sourcing agent a better option?

Buying tapioca starch from an importer or a sourcing agent can eliminate much of the difficulties involved in the sourcing process. Sourcing agent can help the importing process much easier if they have experience and depth-knowledge in tapioca business. These are the key benefits and drawbacks:

Pros:

• Savings in time and money: Sourcing agents may assist in saving time and money by handling tasks including factory research, negotiation, and quality control on behalf of importers. They can check for the cheapest options which still adapt to client’s requirement regarding quality
• Linguistic and cultural barriers: Sourcing agents can bridge the gap between the importer and the Vietnamese supplier by handling language and cultural differences.
• Quality control: Before shipment, sourcing agents can inspect the products to make sure they adhere to the importer’s quality requirements.
• Local knowledge and connections: Sourcing agents can provide valuable insights into the Vietnamese market and connect the importer with reliable suppliers.

Cons:

• Trustworthiness of the agent: It’s important to choose a reputable and trustworthy sourcing agent to avoid potential fraud or miscommunication issues.

Your decision for buying tapioca starch actually depends on your industry experience. For cassava starch buyers, we recommend using a sourcing agent that suits your needs and preferences because of the wide variety, simplicity and flexibility provided by this type of service. As a conclusion, we recommend first looking for a local reputable sourcing agent that matches your business ethics and carrying the tapioca starch you want to buy.

Inside a Cassava starch miller in Vietnam. Source: Viego Global team

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/

Southeast Asia is the world’s largest tapioca starch producer. In the region, Vietnam is a major supplier owing to its abundant natural resources and suitable weather, which are ideal for the mass production of cassava plants. Tapioca starch, with 02 main types Native and Modified, is widely used for food and industrial grade. The distinction between native tapioca starch and modified tapioca starch will be explained in this guide. Read on to learn more about the Vietnam tapioca starch market.

1. What is native and modified tapioca starch?

Vietnam tapioca starch, also commonly called Vietnam cassava starch, is one of the world’s largest starch sources, coming in behind corn starch. It is a white dry starch product extracted from fresh cassava roots, a tuber from Southeast Asia also known as tapioca or manioc. There are two types of starch including  Native and Modified Tapioca Starch;

Native tapioca starch is the purest type that contains only unaltered tapioca. Derived from the root of the cassava plant, the native tapioca starch has very low residual impurities, bland flavor, and superior gel properties. For everyday cooking and food preparation, native starch is a versatile material. Its application in the food and industrial sectors, however, is often limited by its functional qualities. Several physical and chemical modification approaches have been developed to improve starch qualities, resulting in modified types.

Tapioca starch modification is a method of producing modified tapioca starch by physically, chemically, or enzymatically modifying native starch under certain conditions. A modified tapioca starch is modified to allow the starch to function properly under common conditions during processing or storage, such as high heat, high shear, low pH, freeze and cooling. Modified tapioca starch is used as a thickening agent, stabilizer, or an emulsifier.

Some modified cassava starch is used in food and industrial products. Source: Aseancassava

2. The production of Vietnam tapioca starch

2.1. Native tapioca starch

Vietnam tapioca starch is produced mainly by the wet milling of fresh cassava roots. Cassava tubers that are mature and of good quality can yield about 25% starch. Per 100 kg of cassava roots, roughly 60% starch and 10% dry pulp may be recovered from dry cassava chips.

Fresh cassava roots are transported to the tapioca starch manufacturer. Source: Viego Global team

In this process, cassava roots are transported to tapioca starch factories. Most tapioca starch factories will proceed the delivered cassava roots within 1-2 days and avoid storing perishable fresh roots as cassava roots deteriorate fast. First, the cassava roots are put through a dry sieve to remove soil, sand, and other contaminants. After passing the roots through the paddle washer, some of the residual peels, known as wet peels, are manually removed, along with some hard stems or stumps.  A rasper is used to slice and grind the washed roots. The pulp is removed from the starch slurry by passing fresh root slurry through a series of extractors, ranging from coarse to fine.

Production system in a tapioca starch manufacturer. Source: Viego Global team

Have a virtual tour of Vietnam cassava manufacturer: HERE

The starch slurry from the fine extraction is concentrated under a certain temperature. Water is separated further by passing the starch slurry through a dewatering centrifuge, which reduces the water content from 60% in the slurry to 35-40% in the cake. Starch cake is then dried by a hot-air dryer, known as a flash dryer, until it retains only 12-13 percent moisture and is ready for sale.

Native tapioca starch manufacturing process. Source: Breuninger et al. (2009), Aseancassava

Below is the standard quality of Vietnam native tapioca starch that can be used for food and industrial grade.

• Carbohydrate content as starch: 85% min
• Moisture content: 13.0% max
• Protein content: 0.20% max
• Total ash content (m/m): 0.20% max
• Whiteness: 90% min
• Acidity (ml NaOH 1N/100g): 1.5 max
• pH of 10% solution: 5 – 7
• Viscosity(6% solution): 650 – 850 BU Min

Some indicators in the specification can vary slightly depending on quality grades and manufacturers.

2.2. Vietnam modified tapioca starch

Physically modified starch (Pregelatinized starch)

In cold water, native tapioca starch is insoluble, which limits some uses. Therefore, pregelatinized tapioca starch or instant starch are modified from native tapioca starch. It is soluble cooked starch that thickens and forms a gel in cold water without heat. Pregelatinized starch is produced by a physical process by which starch is cooked and dried. Drum drying, extrusion, and spray drying can all be used to dry the product. The common production process of pregelatinized starch involves drying of 30 – 40 % (dry solid) starch slurry on a roller drum dryer heated to 160-170°C by direct steam.

Chemically modified starch

There are various chemical processes to produce chemically modified starch. Below are some popular types of chemical processes used in the food & non-food industry.

Acid-thinned starch 

Acid-thinned is chemically modified starch produced by processing native tapioca starch with an acid such as hydrochloric acid. Also known as thin-boiling starch, this starch provides a low viscosity hot paste when cooked. When cooled, cooked starch forms an opaque and stiff gel. Acid thinned starch’s film and gel-forming qualities make it ideal for confectionery, paper, and textile applications.

Oxidized starch 

Under alkaline circumstances, the reaction of tapioca starch with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) produces Oxidized Starch. This modified tapioca starch is used at the size press as a surface sizing on a wide range of uncoated free sheets to reinforce the paper surface.

Pyrodextrins 

Pyrodextrin is made by burning starch in the presence of mineral acids. The product has increased film forming ability, higher solubility, and reduced hot paste viscosity, making it an excellent adhesive.

Enzyme-converted starch 

Starch can be hydrolyzed by enzymes, resulting in a product with improved solubility and lower viscosity. The product with a low degree of hydrolysis is commonly used in instant food products.

In Vietnam, there are the following popular types of modified tapioca starch:

• Alpha Starch (Pregelatinized Starch)
• Modified starch E1404 (oxidized starch)
• Modified starch E1412 (Distarch phosphate)
• Modified starch E1414 (acetylated distarch phosphate)
• Modified starch E1420 (acetylated starch)
• Modified starch E1422 (acetylated distarch adipate)
• Cationic starch

Inside a modified tapioca starch manufacturer in Vietnam

3. The best applications of tapioca starch

3.1 Food 

Native tapioca starch is extensively used in food recipes such as bakery products. Native and modified tapioca starches are used in food as thickening, binding, texturizing, stabilizing, gelling, film forming, and emulsifying agents. They also work well as fillers, sweeteners, flavor carriers, and fat substitutes. Canned food, frozen food, dry mixes, baked goods, snacks, noodles, dressings, soups, sauces, dairy products, meat and fish products, and baby food are just a few examples of food products that contain starch and its derivatives.

3.2 Beverage 

In drinks with solid ingredients, modified starches are utilized as a colloid stabilizer. Because of their enhanced processing features and capabilities, starch-based sweeteners are favored in drinks over sucrose.

3.3 Confectionery 

Gelling, thickening, texture stabilization, foam strengthening, crystal control, adhesion, film formation, and glazing are all examples of how starch products are utilized in confectionery.

3.4 Paper

Industrial-grade tapioca starch plays a huge role in the paper industry due to its whiteness, safety, cleanliness, and viscosity. It’s also a very good property in the water holding process because of its strong dryness.

3.5 Adhesive

Dextrins are excellent adhesives and used in many applications including corrugated board, paper-bags, laminated board, gummed paper, tapes, labels, stamps and envelopes. In animal feed, and construction materials, manioc starch is used as adhesives or binders.

3.6 Textile 

In the textile industry, tapioca starches are used as sizing agents to stiffen and preserve the thread in order to improve weaving efficiency. They’re also utilized as finishing agents to make smooth textiles and as color thickeners to make printed materials crisp and long-lasting.

3.7 Pharmaceutical, personal care, cosmetics 

In tablet manufacturing, native and modified cassava starches are used as binders, fillers, and dissolving agents. In sanitary items such as diapers and napkins, modified starch is employed as a water absorber. Medical gloves include starch powder to make them easier to wear. Specialty modified tapioca starches are utilized as a carrier for mineral oil-based skin moisturizers. Other modified starches are utilized in personal care products as emulsifiers, encapsulating agents, sizing agents, thickeners, and other additives.

Tapioca starch is used as a thickening agent in food

 

3.8 Other Industrial Sectors

Native tapioca starch can be used in production of fertilizer or biostimulants, which facilitates plant development. The starch can also be used for metal industry, like steel.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/

Vietnam is one of the world’s largest countries exporting cassava starch and other cassava-made products like tapioca residue powder, organic tapioca starch, tapioca syrup, etc. According to MARD, total cassava-growing areas nationwide reached 560,000 hectares, which produces nearly 9.4 million tons per year. Of which, about 70% are processed into tapioca starch and chips for export. In recent years, Vietnam food and industrial-grade tapioca starch has shown great potential both for export and domestic consumption due to its good quality and competitive price. This guide will guide you through the tapioca starch market in Vietnam. Read it to learn more about how to source and import Vietnam Tapioca starch.

1. A glimpse into the local production of Vietnam tapioca starch

Tapioca starch (or cassava powder) is a fine white crystalline product extracted from cassava tubers.  Cassava is a nutraceutical root vegetable with a clean and neutral flavor, in which starch is the main constituent. Depending on the region of growth, cassava plants may also be known as mandioca, yucca, manioc or tapioca. In Vietnam, cassava has rapidly changed its role from a food crop to an industrial crop, with a high rate of growth during the first years of the 21st Century.

a . Cassava growing regions in Vietnam

It could be said that Vietnam is a strong producer of tapioca starch for both food and industrial sectors, owing to its abundant natural resources and suitable weather, which are ideal for mass-production of cassava plants. Cassava is cultivated a lot in the following provinces:

•   In the South: Tay Ninh Province, Binh Phuoc Province, Dong Nai Province, Binh Thuan Province.
•   In the Central Highlands: Gia Lai Province, Daklak Province, Dak Nong province.
•   In the Central Coast: Quang Ngai Province, Binh Dinh Province, Phu Yen Province, Quang Nam Province, Nghe An Province, Quang Tri province.
•   In the North (smaller quantity compared to the South & Central Coast): Yen Bai Province, Son La Province, Hoa Binh Province.

Particularly in Tay Ninh Province, there are 65 factories processing tapioca starch with a total annual capacity of 6.4 million tonnes of tubers. The province is now one of Vietnam’s largest producer, grower, and exporter of cassava products.

b. Cassava’s crop in Vietnam

In Vietnam, farmers typically plant their main cassava harvests between February and April. Harvesting time varies by area, depending on climate conditions.

In the North, growing cassava in March is the most convenient time when temperature begins to warm with spring rains, making it ideal for plants to grow and generate tubers.

While in The North Central region, January is the best month for cultivating cassava. Heavy rains will kill the cassava plant if they plant earlier.

Cassava is planted in the South Central area from January to March, when temperatures are generally high and rain is common. Tapioca is planted earlier than 1-2 months in certain regions, but it is also harvested in September and October.

In the Highland and South, farmers grow cassava mainly at the end of the dry season. Rainy season in April or May is the ideal condition, when there is stable high temperature and regular rain.

2. How is Vietnam tapioca starch processed?

According to the Vietnam Cassava Association, there are 120 cassava starch factories in the country with a processing capacity of over 15.5 million tonnes. In the recent years, cassava cultivation has become more cost-effective due to new, high-yielding cassava varieties and more sustainable production techniques, particularly in the Southeast.

Vietnam tapioca starch is produced mainly by the wet milling of fresh cassava roots. Cassava tubers that are mature and of good quality can yield about 25% starch. Per 100 kg of cassava roots, roughly 60% starch and 10% dry pulp may be recovered from dry cassava chips.

The process may be described into 8 steps as follows:

1. Weigh the fresh cassava roots to determine the starch content
2. Use the dry sieve to remove sand and impurities.
3. Peel and clean it with paddle washing machines, then slice out the root tails.
4. Place the freshly cleaned cassava in the Rasper, then decant to remove the protein.
5. Remove the fiber from the slurry by passing it through the screen. Sun-dried fiber is offered for use in animal feed.
6. Separate the fine fiber and impurity by Centrifuge machine.
7. Dry the starch in the hot-air dryer until it retains only 12-13 percent moisture and is ready for sale.
8. Sift the starch and pack the fine powder into the sale sacks.

Have a virtual tour at a Vietnam tapioca starch factory HERE.

3. Vietnam tapioca starch classifications 

Tapioca starch can be divided into two main types: (1) Native tapioca starch: Used in the production of animal feed, foodstuffs, and many other industrial sections; (2) Modified tapioca starch: Made from native tapioca starch with the addition of additional chemicals to produce better grades for usage in the food, paper, and textile industries.

In Vietnam, there are the following popular types of modified tapioca starch:

1. Alpha Starch (Pregelatinized Starch)

Pre-gelatinization is the simplest modification, which is accomplished by cooking and drying. Pregelatinized starch is widely used in pharmaceuticals because it is bland, odorless, and capable of digestion.

2. Modified starch E1404 (oxidized starch):

Used to increase recovery rate of pulp in the paper manufacturing industry, waterproof paper.

3. Modified starch E1412 (Distarch phosphate):

Used as paste and stability increasing agents in food products, fillers for printers, paper industry, producing instant noodles, sausages, fish-ball, meat-ball, etc.

4. Modified starch E1414 (acetylated distarch phosphate):

Used in canned foods, frozen foods, soy sauce, chili sauce, tomato ketchup, soup, gravies, yogurt, meat-ball, fish-ball, pudding and jelly, baked foods, etc.

5. Modified starch E1420 (acetylated starch):

Used in instant noodles, frozen foods, ham, sausage, fish ball.

6. Modified starch E1422 (acetylated distarch adipate):

Used in the products of chili sauce, soy sauce, tomato sauce, vegetable sauce, canned meat products, canned fish, fish balls, biscuits, pudding, yogurt, cream, etc.

4. Was the export volume of Vietnam’s cassava products affected by COVID-19 pandemic?

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam gained growth in the export of cassava chips and cassava-made products in 2020 according to the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic did have negative impact on the cassava production industry according to the MARD,  it was still one of the few agricultural products with a positive growth in export value. Data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) noted as of November, 2021, the export value of cassava rose by 65%. Export prices are also expected to remain high due to falling supply and high demand from China.

Industrial-grade tapioca starch to be loaded at port before shipment.  Source: Viego Global team

Watch more video about Vietnam cassava HERE.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Given that Vietnam has plenty of Tapioca starch suppliers, it is not easy to find a trustworthy supplier to work with though. Let’s answer the questions below before conducting your sourcing:

• Are you going to import tapioca starch or any cassava products from Vietnam?
• Are you finding a Vietnamese trusted supplier for different types of tapioca starch?
• Are you finding Vietnamese tapioca starch source of supply with high quality and competitive price?

If your answer is yes for all, please contact us directly at Whatsapp/Wechat: +84 98 352 4599 or email: marketing@viegoglobal.com. Being present at the cassava-growing location and the economic centre of Vietnam, Viego Global can greatly help you professionally source and execute order, providing maximum benefits to our clients in terms of delivering a wide range of tapioca products at the best competitive pricing.

Or in case you want to explore more about Vietnam tapioca starch first, below are our tapioca channels for latest update:

• Website: https://vietnamtapiocastarch.vn/ or https://viegoglobal.com/category/vietnams-tapioca-market/
• Instagram: instagram.com/native_modified_tapioca_starch
• Tiktok: tiktok.com/@vntapiocastarch
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VietnamTapiocastarchSupplier
• Twitter: twitter.com/thamdinhtapioca
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-sky-native-and-modified-tapioca-starch/