Market Trends of South America Chia Seeds Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the South America Chia Seeds Market according to our research experts:
Demand of Chia Seeds in Food Sector
As an ingredient, chia seeds can be used in different snacks, cookies, candy, baking industries, and in cereal and breakfast options. They act as popular alternatives in the food industry, due to their smaller size and lower weight. They are an easy option as snacks and can be kept for a long time, as it is always easy to sprinkle some seeds onto food. The neutral taste of chia seeds goes well with a variety of dishes. They have the unique ability to 'gel' when added to wet ingredients and work particularly well as vegan-friendly replacements for eggs or gelatin, in certain recipes.
Bolivia dominates the market
Bolivia has become one of the largest producers of chia, with around 3,000 to 4,000 cultivars in the country. According to ANAPO, the Association of Oilseed and Grain Producers, in Bolivia, a trend of a substantial rise in production was observed, mainly due to increasing demand from foreign buyers, which has placed Bolivian quality chia at a high rank. A rapid growth rate in the production quantity was observed during 2014-2015, and it was the speculation of price increase that triggered this production trend of chia during the period. The rising price for chia seeds in the commodity markets is attracting more and more farmers toward taking up chia seed cultivation, which is likely to further increase the competitiveness of the Bolivian chia seeds market.
