The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Aircraft and helicopters that drop water or fire retardant on wildfires and support crews on the ground. Governments contract fleets and run them seasonally.
Typical segments
- Air tankers
- Water bombing helicopters
- Scooper aircraft
- Drone and surveillance support
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 880212 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.
Why this market is moving now
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 136% 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 880212 (Helicopters of an unladen weight > 2.000 kg). Each country's latest reported year is used: Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Egypt 2020, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2022, Morocco 2023, Nigeria 2024, Oman 2025, Qatar 2023, Saudi Arabia 2024, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2020, Tunisia 2022, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 88021200 (Helicopters of an unladen weight > 2.000 kg), 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 $222.3 million under HS code 880212 (Helicopters of an unladen weight > 2.000 kg) in their latest year with data (2025 for 5 countries, 2024 for 2, 2023 for 5, 2022 for 2 and 2020 for 2). | 222.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $52.9 million in 2025, or 24% of the total. | 52.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $49.4 million in 2023. | 49.4 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $100.3 million, or 45% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 100.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $120.3 million, or 54% of the total. | 120.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 6 largest importing countries in the region, which took 83% of its reported imports, with $37.4 million, or 20% of their imports under HS 880212 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 37.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 880212 was $1,409.32 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1,409.32 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 88021200 (Helicopters of an unladen weight > 2.000 kg) to the 5 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €129.8 million in 2025. | 129.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 88021200 to these countries were up 136% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €55.0 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +136 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 88021200 in 2025, at €96.6 million. | 96.6 EUR million | 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=880212 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=49398870; CIV2023=8566110; EGY2020=15236486; ETH2023=46112; GHA2025=4395284; ISR2025=1662000; KEN2025=7787728; KWT2022=9817706; MAR2023=26897883; NGA2024=550904; OMN2025=25564520; QAT2023=44553; SAU2024=15430000; TUN2022=2608; TZA2020=4000000; ZAF2025=52863114; sum=222263877 (shown as 222.3 USD million)
- Figure 2
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 52863114; share of 222263877 = 24% (shown as 52.9 USD million)
- Figure 4
cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN QAT SAU = 100255650; share 45% (shown as 100.3 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 120346228; share 54%
- Figure 7
cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 169400764 / sum of netWgt 120200 kg = 1409.32 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 49398870 (shown as 49.4 USD million)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 880212, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 37399025; world 185390873; share 20% (shown as 37.4 USD million)
- Figure 6
- 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 88021200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=5547284; CI=1500000; NG=18987612; SA=96565310; TZ=7242657; sum 129842863
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88021200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 54965374; 2025 = 129842863; change +136%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88021200, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 96565310 (shown as 96.6 EUR million)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Forestry agencies
- Civil protection bodies
- Aircraft operators
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 88021200, 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
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa aerial firefighting market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $222.3 million under HS code 880212 by 16 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most aerial firefighting?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import aerial firefighting from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Ireland, Germany and Italy.
How do GCC and African imports of aerial firefighting compare?
The GCC countries with data took $100.3 million, or 45% of the total, and the African countries with data took $120.3 million, or 54%, each in its latest reported year.
How much aerial firefighting does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 88021200 to the countries covered of €129.8 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of aerial firefighting in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1,409.32 per kilogram for HS 880212, across the countries that reported weight.
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