EU exports to the countries covered were €151 thousand in 2025.
What this market covers
A reactive chemical used to make cellulose acetate, aspirin and other pharmaceuticals, and dyes. Fibre, drug and fine chemical makers buy it.
Typical segments
- Technical grade
- Pharma grade
- Cellulose acetate feedstock
- Dye intermediates
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 291524 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Source: UN Comtrade
Why this market is moving now
- Import value for the 8 countries reporting every year fell 1% from 2021 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 6% from 2020 to 2025.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 16 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 291524 (Acetic anhydride). Each country's latest reported year is used: Cote d'Ivoire 2022, Egypt 2021, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2024, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 29152400 (Acetic anhydride), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 16 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $1.1 million under HS code 291524 (Acetic anhydride) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 2, 2022 for 1 and 2021 for 1). | 1.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 291524 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2024 were down 1% in 2024 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $1.0 million to $1.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -1 % since 2021 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $391 thousand in 2025, or 36% of the total. | 391 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Morocco followed with $355 thousand in 2025. | 355 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 4 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $9 thousand, or 1% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 9 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $674 thousand, or 63% of the total. | 674 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 291524 was $1.22 per kilogram across the 14 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.22 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29152400 (Acetic anhydride) to the 10 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €151 thousand in 2025. | 151 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29152400 to these countries were up 6% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €143 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +6 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29152400 in 2025, at €101 thousand. | 101 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=291524 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=2752; CIV2022=729; EGY2021=116373; ETH2023=67374; GHA2024=9295; ISR2025=391000; JOR2024=2776; KEN2025=301; KWT2025=646; MAR2025=355301; NGA2025=89673; OMN2025=421; SAU2025=4835; TUN2024=958; TZA2024=6; ZAF2025=33658; sum=1076099
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 391000; share of 1076099 = 36%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 504, period 2025, cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 355301
- Figure 5
cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN SAU = 8655; share 1%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 673668; share 63% (shown as 674 USD thousand)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1068511 / sum of netWgt 876992 kg = 1.22 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 291524, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA SAU TUN ZAF: 2021 = 1011532; 2024 = 1001999; change -1%
- Figure 2
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29152400, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: CI=118; EG=136; GH=2579; IL=100792; JO=330; KW=264; SA=3167; TN=154; TZ=382; ZA=43250; sum 151172
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29152400, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 142641; 2025 = 151172; change +6%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29152400, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 100792 (shown as 101 EUR thousand)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Pharmaceutical makers
- Cellulose acetate producers
- Fine chemical firms
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29152400, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa acetic anhydride market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.1 million under HS code 291524 by 16 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most acetic anhydride?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Morocco and Egypt.
How do GCC and African imports of acetic anhydride compare?
The GCC countries with data took $9 thousand, or 1% of the total, and the African countries with data took $674 thousand, or 63%, each in its latest reported year.
How much acetic anhydride does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29152400 to the countries covered of €151 thousand in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of acetic anhydride in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.22 per kilogram for HS 291524, across the countries that reported weight.
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