China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Laser scanners flown on aircraft and drones to map terrain, forests and structures in three dimensions. Buyers are surveyors, utilities, forestry and mapping agencies.
Typical segments
- Topographic lidar
- Bathymetric lidar
- Drone mounted lidar
- Corridor mapping
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 901580 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 15 countries reporting every year rose 46% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 30% 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 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 901580 (Instruments and appliances used in geodesy, topography, hydrography, oceanography,). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
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 90158040 (Instruments and appliances used in geodesy, topography surveying or levelling and), 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 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $566.1 million under HS code 901580 (Instruments and appliances used in geodesy, topography, hydrography, oceanography,) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 566.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 901580 by the 15 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were up 46% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $213.9 million to $313.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +46 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $252.2 million in 2023, or 45% of the total. | 252.2 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $111.0 million in 2025. | 111.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $423.6 million, or 75% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 423.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $118.9 million, or 21% of the total. | 118.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 5 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $119.3 million, or 26% of their imports under HS 901580 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 119.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 901580 was $100.18 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 100.18 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 90158040 (Instruments and appliances used in geodesy, topography surveying or levelling and) to the 19 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €11.7 million in 2025. | 11.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 90158040 to these countries were up 30% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €9.0 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +30 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 90158040 in 2025, at €3.8 million. | 3.8 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=901580 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=252237056; BHR2024=1729032; CIV2025=7362704; DZA2024=8314788; EGY2025=6408300; ETH2023=1171993; GHA2025=7138663; ISR2025=17770000; JOR2024=5776488; KEN2025=2824740; KWT2025=24937593; MAR2025=16332868; NGA2025=5477977; OMN2025=12600520; QAT2024=21157645; SAU2025=110979405; TUN2024=6756511; TZA2025=9368959; ZAF2025=47789522; sum=566134765
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 110979405 (shown as 111.0 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 423641253; share 75%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 118947024; share 21%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 517173250 / sum of netWgt 5162468 kg = 100.18 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 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR CIV EGY ISR JOR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN QAT SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 213872108; 2024 = 313034093; change +46%
- Figure 2
- 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 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 252237056; share of 566134765 = 45%
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 901580, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 119255345; world 457101222; share 26% (shown as 119.3 USD million)
- Figure 7
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90158040, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=3301890; BH=5693; CI=106070; DZ=185690; EG=150853; ET=10005; GH=114971; IL=1995400; JO=345152; KE=60177; KW=6131; MA=43638; NG=274457; OM=13903; QA=56395; SA=906230; TN=27007; TZ=253940; ZA=3804194; sum 11661796 (shown as 11.7 EUR million)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90158040, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 8996662; 2025 = 11661796; change +30%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90158040, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3804194
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Survey firms
- Utilities
- Mapping agencies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 90158040, 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
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa airborne lidar market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $566.1 million under HS code 901580 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most airborne lidar?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import airborne lidar from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
How do GCC and African imports of airborne lidar compare?
The GCC countries with data took $423.6 million, or 75% of the total, and the African countries with data took $118.9 million, or 21%, each in its latest reported year.
How much airborne lidar does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 90158040 to the countries covered of €11.7 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of airborne lidar in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $100.18 per kilogram for HS 901580, across the countries that reported weight.
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