What It Is
Maize starch and its derivatives, such as liquid glucose, dextrose, maltodextrin and sorbitol, are made by wet-milling maize. They go into textiles, paper, food, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and many industrial uses.
How It Is Made
Maize is steeped in water, then ground and separated into starch, gluten, germ and fibre. Starch is dried or converted by enzymes into glucose syrups and other sweeteners. Germ goes to oil extraction and gluten and fibre to animal feed.
Uses and Buyers
Textile mills (sizing), paper mills, confectionery and biscuit makers, pharmaceutical companies, and food and beverage makers.
Quality and Standards
Starch is graded by purity, moisture, viscosity and colour; pharmaceutical grades must meet pharmacopoeia standards.
Trade and Exports
India's wet-milling industry is concentrated in Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and exports starch and derivatives to Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Where the Raw Material Comes From
Processors buy maize from the main growing states below. Plants are usually built close to these belts, or close to ports for imported raw material, to keep freight low and quality fresh. Tap a state for its districts, markets, season and buyers.
| State | Main districts |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | Davangere, Haveri, Ballari, Chitradurga, Belagavi, Chikkaballapur |
| Madhya Pradesh | Chhindwara, Seoni, Jhabua, Dhar, Khargone, Betul |
| Maharashtra | Jalgaon, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Nashik, Ahmednagar, Buldhana |
| Bihar | Purnea, Katihar, Khagaria, Samastipur, Begusarai, Madhepura |
| Telangana | Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Siddipet, Jagtial |
| Rajasthan | Bhilwara, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Dungarpur |
| Andhra Pradesh | Guntur, Krishna, Kurnool, Vizianagaram |
| Tamil Nadu | Perambalur, Salem, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Virudhunagar |
| Uttar Pradesh | Bahraich, Bulandshahr, Etah, Kannauj, Hardoi |
| Gujarat | Panchmahal, Dahod, Sabarkantha, Aravalli |
| Punjab | Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana |
| West Bengal | Malda, Murshidabad, Dakshin Dinajpur, Cooch Behar |
Makers, Processors and Bodies
- Gujarat Ambuja Exports LtdAhmedabad · maize processingAboutExplore
- Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals LtdPhagwaraAboutExplore
- Tirupati Starch & Chemicals LtdIndoreAboutExplore
- Roquette Riddhi Siddhi Pvt LtdGujaratAboutExplore
Related: Maize · All products · All crops
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