Spain Industrial Starch Market Overview, 2030

Spain’s industrial starch market has undergone a notable transformation, moving from a food-dominant, commodity-based structure toward a diversified and innovation led industrial input sector. The shift is marked by rising adoption of starch in biodegradable packaging, paper and board coatings, adhesives, textile processing, and construction materials. Major players such as Cargill, Roquette, and ADM, alongside domestic firms like Productos del Maíz and Ferlo, are investing in modified and specialty starches to address demand from Spain’s industrial processors. This includes oxidized starches, dextrins, and enzymatically tailored variants that offer enhanced adhesion, film forming, and viscosity control. Spain’s push toward sustainable industrial materials aligns with EU-wide climate mandates and domestic environmental policies. Companies are actively replacing synthetic polymers with bio-based starch adhesives, coatings, and bioplastics for disposable items and industrial binders. This includes pilot projects for starch films in fresh produce packaging and starch-based wall treatments in green buildings. Spanish starch firms are adopting flexible manufacturing infrastructure, enabling the production of customized industrial starches that cater to clients across paper, textile, construction, and chemical sectors. Innovation centers on the development of high-functionality starch systems that can withstand extreme pH, thermal stress, or mechanical shear, commonly required in adhesives and paper processing. With the rise in circular economy practices, there is also momentum behind closed loop starch applications and zero-waste production chains. Spain’s proximity to European, North African, and Latin American industrial markets coupled with robust port logistics gives its starch producers an export edge.

According to the research report, ""Spain Starch Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Spain Starch market is anticipated to add to more than USD 980 Million by 2025–30. Spain’s industrial starch manufacturing is geographically concentrated in Castilla y León, Aragón, and Catalonia, supported by ample corn and wheat cultivation and well-integrated logistics infrastructure. Wet milling facilities in these regions produce a range of industrial starches, including modified, oxidized, and enzyme-treated variants tailored for packaging adhesives, construction mixes, and paper coatings. Imports of specialty starches such as tapioca and rice starch supplement the domestic supply, meeting performance needs in bioplastics, technical adhesives, and pharmaceutical excipients. Spanish exports of industrial starch products particularly dextrins, pregelatinized starch, and cyclodextrins are directed to EU member states, North Africa, and Latin America, leveraging Spain’s advanced port infrastructure in Valencia, Barcelona, and Bilbao. Regulatory governance is overseen by AESAN under the European Union framework, ensuring compliance with REACH, EFSA, and CLP regulations. Starch used in industrial formulations must meet chemical safety, labelling, and emission standards, especially under EU Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan directives. Recent developments highlight Spain’s strategic pivot to bio-based industrial solutions. Products del Maíz introduced enzyme-treated starches tailored for instant adhesive applications, with parallel investment in wastewater treatment systems to meet new emissions limits. Roquette expanded its Catalonia facility to produce thermal resistant binders for the construction sector, while ADM is collaborating with local universities on starch-based hydrogels for use in agricultural and insulation products. These efforts reflect a growing industrial alignment with eco-certification schemes, carbon reduction goals, and closed loop processing mandates, solidifying Spain’s capacity to meet evolving material demands from industrial users.

Corn remains the predominant starch source in Spain, with cultivation concentrated in the Ebro Valley, Castilla-La Mancha, and Andalusia. The country’s favorable climate and irrigation systems provide consistent supply for wet milling operations producing glucose syrups, dextrose, and food grade starches. Wheat, especially soft wheat, is another key feedstock, used extensively in bakery and pasta applications. Wheat starch is preferred for its structural attributes and compatibility with Spain’s traditional culinary profile. While domestic potato starch production is limited, imports from countries such as France and Germany are increasing, particularly for clean label and organic food applications where its functional clarity and texture are advantageous. Cassava starch, entirely imported from Southeast Asia, is experiencing growing demand as an allergen free, neutral tasting option for frozen foods, sauces, and gluten free bakery. Rice starch, sourced from Belgium and Thailand, is widely used in baby foods, nutritional supplements, and skincare products due to its fine particle size and hypoallergenic properties. Spain is also exploring alternative starches from chickpeas and lentils, aligning with regional dietary preferences and rising demand for plant-protein enrichment. Sustainability objectives are increasingly influencing raw material sourcing, prompting processors to diversify inputs and improve traceability across their supply chains. The strategic shift toward broader crop utilization reflects a market balancing traditional strengths with innovation-driven demand and risk management in sourcing.

Spain’s industrial starch product range spans native starches, modified starches, and high-performance derivatives. Native starches, especially from corn and wheat, serve textile pastes, lamination glues, and low emission packaging films. Their application is expanding in sectors where biodegradability, clean processing, and natural sourcing are critical, such as eco-construction materials and bioplastic feedstocks. Modified starches form the backbone of Spain’s industrial output. Cross-linked, oxidized, hydroxypropylated, and pregelatinized starches are developed to meet thermal resistance, adhesion strength, and moisture barrier needs. These starches are extensively used in paper sizing, corrugated adhesives, dry-mix mortars, and textile sizing agents. Spanish manufacturers are focusing on reducing drying temperatures and water use during modification processes, aided by public incentives for green chemistry and clean tech upgrades. Starch derivatives include maltodextrin, dextrins, glucose syrups, and cyclodextrins, with industrial applications in adhesives, chemical encapsulation, and biopolymer matrices. Dextrins are particularly valued in label adhesives, corrugated packaging, and bio-laminated boards for their ease of formulation and strong bonding properties. Cyclodextrins, although more commonly associated with pharma, are increasingly used in agrochemical delivery systems and scent release capsules in household and air-care products. Ongoing innovation focuses on multifunctional starch systems that integrate fat replacement, emulsification, and thermal resistance especially useful in bioplastics and construction materials. Research partnerships with universities and EU institutions are enabling rapid prototyping of such blends, giving Spanish starch producers a competitive edge in the design of next generation industrial materials.

The food and beverage industry constitutes the largest application area for starch in Spain. Corn and wheat starches are integral to the production of sauces, traditional desserts, processed meats, pastry fillings, and bakery items. Modified starches are essential for enhancing texture and stability in chilled and frozen products, particularly in the rapidly expanding convenience food segment. Tapioca and rice starches are prevalent in gluten free and allergen sensitive products, especially in urban centers like Barcelona and Madrid. Glucose syrup and maltodextrin are widely used in confectionery, beverages, and health-focused product lines, while high-purity derivatives support Spain’s growing sports and medical nutrition markets. The animal feed segment uses starch as both a binder and energy source, contributing to pellet integrity and digestibility in poultry and livestock formulations. In pharmaceuticals, starch-based excipients including pregelatinized starches and disintegrants are used in tablets, suspensions, and capsule systems. Beyond these sectors, starch plays a critical role in biodegradable packaging, paper products, and textile sizing, particularly in response to the EU Single Use Plastics Directive. Several Spanish manufacturers are piloting starch based films for fresh produce packaging in response to retailer sustainability mandates. In cosmetics and personal care, rice and corn starch are used as natural absorbents and bulking agents in powders and creams. As consumer behavior, regulatory frameworks, and technology ecosystems continue to evolve, starch is securing its place as a multifunctional and sustainable solution across a wide spectrum of Spanish industries. Show more