Market evolution: Cassava and similar starches (CN 0714) — 2015–2025

Introduction

This report analyzes the trade dynamics of the European Union (EU) for the customs code 0714, which covers cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, and similar starchy roots and tubers. Over the 2015-2025 period, the EU market has undergone a dramatic transformation, characterized by a massive expansion in import volumes and values, a significant shift in supplier countries, and a growing structural trade deficit. While EU exports have also grown, they have done so at a slower pace and from a much smaller base, underscoring the bloc's increasing reliance on external sources for these products. This report breaks down these trends, focusing on the evolving import structure, export diversification, and the dominance of specific product segments.

1. A Structural Import Boom and a Widening Trade Deficit

The period from 2015 to 2025 was defined by an unprecedented surge in EU imports of CN 0714 products, fundamentally altering the trade balance. This growth was not merely incremental but represented a structural shift in the EU's consumption and sourcing patterns.

Import volumes and values grew at an exceptional rate

EU imports from non-EU countries escalated dramatically across all metrics. The total import value increased by 265.2%, from €110.7 million in 2015 to €404.5 million in 2025. This value growth was supported by a 258.6% increase in import quantities, rising from 119,593 tonnes to 428,856 tonnes (General Overview trade data). The near-parallel growth in value and volume indicates that average import prices remained relatively stable, increasing only 1.8% over the decade, suggesting that supply expanded efficiently to meet rising demand.

The EU's trade deficit expanded significantly

Concurrently, EU exports, while also growing, could not keep pace. Exports grew by 186.2% in value (to €43.6 million) and 102.5% in volume (to 30,122 tonnes). The much faster import growth led to a widening of the trade deficit. The deficit in value terms ballooned from -€95.5 million in 2015 to -€360.8 million in 2025, a 277.8% deterioration. This highlights the EU's growing dependency on external suppliers for this category of agricultural products.

2. A Reconfiguration of Supplier and Export Markets

The surge in demand was met by a reconfiguration of the EU's supplier network, with traditional partners seeing their roles diminished while new, often more volatile, sources emerged. On the export side, the EU strengthened its position with its closest neighbors.

New and emerging suppliers captured the lion's share of import growth

While the United States remained a key partner, its growth was modest (+21.8%). The most dramatic shifts were observed in other countries. Egypt saw explosive growth, with import values increasing by over 5,000% to become the second-largest supplier by value. Costa Rica (+237.6%) and China (+215.9%) also substantially increased their exports to the EU. Conversely, the United Kingdom's role as a supplier to the EU diminished sharply (-60.7%), likely influenced by Brexit. This diversification, however, came with increased volatility; for instance, imports from Egypt showed a very high coefficient of variation (1.16), indicating significant year-on-year fluctuations (Volatility & Shocks data).

EU exports concentrated on geographically proximate markets

The primary destination for EU exports was the United Kingdom, which saw a steady 30.1% increase in value to €13.9 million. The most striking growth, however, was seen in exports to Switzerland (+477.5%) and Norway (+827.0%), where EU exporters capitalized on proximity and demand. This is corroborated by price shocks detected in these markets in 2019, suggesting sudden surges in demand or supply disruptions (Volatility & Shocks: top shock events). Within the EU, the Netherlands and Spain were the dominant exporters, reinforcing the role of major ports and processing hubs.

3. Sweet Potato Dominance and Shifting Internal Market Structures

The aggregate trade figures mask a pronounced product specialization, with sweet potatoes driving the import boom. This product focus has influenced the internal market structure and concentration metrics within the EU.

Sweet potatoes became the overwhelmingly dominant import product

The product segment breakdown reveals that sweet potatoes (CN 071420) are the engine of import growth. In 2025, sweet potatoes accounted for 339,982 tonnes (79% of total import volume) and €281.2 million (69% of total import value). This represents a 350% growth in quantity since 2015. Cassava (CN 071410) also grew but to a much lesser extent, remaining a distant second in volume. All other sub-categories (yams, taro, etc.) remained niche products, though some, like taro, showed high percentage growth from a small base (Product Segment Breakdown: imports).

Import concentration increased while export concentration diversified

The Hirschman-Herfindahl Index (HHI) for imports, measured by value, rose from 2008 in 2015 to 2711 in 2025, indicating that imports became more concentrated in the hands of fewer partners (likely due to the massive growth from Egypt). In contrast, the export HHI fell sharply from 5143 to 2002, meaning exports became more diversified across more destination countries (Market Structure: concentration HHI). Within the EU, the Netherlands is the clear leader, holding a high Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) of 0.65, confirming its specialized role as an import and re-export hub (Market Structure: most specialised reporters).

Conclusion

Over the 2015-2025 decade, the EU market for CN 0714 products underwent a profound transformation. The defining feature was a massive, structurally significant increase in imports, driven overwhelmingly by soaring demand for sweet potatoes. This led to a substantial widening of the trade deficit and a reconfiguration of the EU's supplier landscape, with Egypt emerging as a dominant but volatile source. The EU's export sector, while growing, remained secondary and was increasingly oriented toward neighboring non-EU countries like the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. Internally, the market became more concentrated on the import side but more diversified on the export side, solidifying the role of logistics hubs like the Netherlands. These trends point to a long-term structural dependency of the EU on external supplies of these starchy roots, with all the associated opportunities and vulnerabilities in global supply chains.