ABSTRACT
Cassava enters international trade in two main forms—as pellets for use in animal feeds and as starch for use in both the food and non-food sectors. Thailand is the major world exporter of both these products. While the export of Thai pellets has increased rapidly due to favorable European Economic Community (EEC) regulations and advances in transportation, starch exports to the two major markets have stagnated due to government policies in Japan and transport difficulties to the United States. The trade in sweet potato slices to EEC is also compared with the Thai cassava pellet trade. These case studies highlight the problems in developing international trade in root crops, the necessity for thorough market research, and the need for adequate transport facilities and clear government policies in the exporting countries. Because of the difficulties in developing international trade in both the animal feed ingredient and starch markets, producers of tropical root crops should normally concentrate on their domestic markets.
