Choosing a tapioca starch supplier is a risk-management decision as much as a price decision. A consistent, certified manufacturer protects your production line; the wrong choice means rejected lots, line stoppages, and compliance exposure. Here are the ten questions experienced buyers ask before committing.
1. Are you the manufacturer, or a trader?
Buying direct from the factory usually means better traceability, faster answers on specifications, and tighter quality control. Confirm whether the company actually produces the starch.
2. What food-safety certifications do you hold — and who audited them?
Look for FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, and GHP, audited by a recognised body such as SGS. Certification audited by an accredited third party is far stronger than a self-declaration. See what certifications a supplier should have.
3. What is your real production capacity?
Ask for the true bottleneck capacity, not a headline figure. A supplier running at, say, 150 MT/day can support steady volume; one that quotes a theoretical maximum may struggle to deliver consistently.
4. Can you provide a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis?
Every shipment should come with a COA tested against the agreed specification. No COA, no deal.
5. Which SO₂ grade can you supply for my application?
Confirm the supplier can meet your required SO₂ grade — ≤10/≤30 ppm for food, ≤100 ppm for industrial — and your market’s regulatory limit.
6. Is the product native or modified?
Be explicit about whether you need native (unmodified) or modified starch — they perform very differently.
7. What packaging can you offer?
Standard options are 30 kg bags and 500/850 kg jumbo bags (FIBC). Confirm the supplier can pack to your handling and storage needs.
8. How do you handle traceability and recalls?
A certified supplier can trace any lot back through production. Ask how a quality issue would be handled.
9. What are your lead times and logistics?
Confirm how export routing, port of loading, and container loading are handled, and typical lead time for your destination.
10. Will you send a sample?
Always evaluate a sample against your own process before placing volume. A reputable manufacturer provides one on request.
TQ Industry Starch is a direct manufacturer of native tapioca starch in Sa Kaeo, Thailand, certified to FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, HACCP, GHP, and Halal, at around 150 MT/day. Send your requirement and we’ll answer all of the above — with a sample on request.