adsNigeria, the world’s largest cassava producer, is well-positioned to tap into the lucrative sorbitol market, according to NCIA.
The country has a clear opportunity to produce sorbitol locally and serve demand across multiple industries, including pharmaceutical and food processing.
Sorbitol, a widely used sweetener and humectant, is typically produced from glucose derived from corn starch. However, cassava’s high starch content provides a viable alternative feedstock.
Nigeria’s sweetener demand is large and growing, expected to reach approximately 2.15 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2026, with domestic production capacity covering only ~2.5 percent of demand, according to the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRC).
The country is heavily reliant on imports for industrial polyols like sorbitol, with approximately 7,700 MT imported in 2023, according to data from UN Comtrade.adsads
