China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Non-ionic surfactants made by reacting fatty alcohols with ethylene oxide. Buyers are makers of detergents, personal care products, paints and agrochemicals.
Typical segments
- Linear alcohol ethoxylates
- Branched alcohol ethoxylates
- Low foam grades
- Bio-based grades
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 340242 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 10 countries reporting every year fell 4% from 2022 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 7% from 2022 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 18 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 340242 (Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale). Each country's latest reported year is used: 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.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria.
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 34024200 (Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale), 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 18 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $390.4 million under HS code 340242 (Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 2). | 390.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 340242 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2022 to 2025 were down 4% in 2025 compared with 2022 (2022 is the first year with data for this code), from $289.8 million to $278.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -4 % since 2022 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $77.9 million in 2025, or 20% of the total. | 77.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $64.2 million in 2023. | 64.2 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $124.7 million, or 32% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 124.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $187.8 million, or 48% of the total. | 187.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 6 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $76.0 million, or 24% of their imports under HS 340242 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 76.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 340242 was $0.93 per kilogram across the 13 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.93 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 34024200 (Non-ionic organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale) to the 19 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €148.6 million in 2025. | 148.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 34024200 to these countries were down 7% in 2025 compared with 2022 (the first year with data for this code), when they were €159.3 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -7 % since 2022 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 34024200 in 2025, at €31.3 million. | 31.3 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=340242 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=64216200; BHR2024=1309913; CIV2025=5375331; EGY2025=48545206; ETH2023=4594366; GHA2025=4819821; ISR2025=57454000; JOR2024=20421690; KEN2025=4229001; KWT2025=3674186; MAR2025=18556246; NGA2025=12948799; OMN2025=5106544; QAT2024=3692781; SAU2025=46742744; TUN2024=7993536; TZA2025=2853717; ZAF2025=77891086; sum=390425167
- Figure 2
cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2022 = 289832378; 2025 = 278001529; change -4%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 77891086; share of 390425167 = 20% (shown as 77.9 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 124742368; share 32%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 187807109; share 48%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 294052170 / sum of netWgt 315526418 kg = 0.93 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 64216200
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 340242, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 75963537; world 315270926; share 24% (shown as 76.0 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 34024200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=14761590; BH=169835; CI=3695637; DZ=18019086; EG=23477784; ET=142079; GH=265356; IL=31323519; JO=2097100; KE=645826; KW=1304495; MA=13547822; NG=1548132; OM=2350932; QA=2016610; SA=12889637; TN=4452095; TZ=41149; ZA=15879155; sum 148627839
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 34024200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2022 = 159262132; 2025 = 148627839; change -7%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 34024200, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 31323519
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Detergent makers
- Personal care brands
- Agrochemical formulators
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 34024200, 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 alcohol ethoxylate market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $390.4 million under HS code 340242 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most alcohol ethoxylate?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import alcohol ethoxylate from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.
How do GCC and African imports of alcohol ethoxylate compare?
The GCC countries with data took $124.7 million, or 32% of the total, and the African countries with data took $187.8 million, or 48%, each in its latest reported year.
How much alcohol ethoxylate does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 34024200 to the countries covered of €148.6 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of alcohol ethoxylate in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.93 per kilogram for HS 340242, across the countries that reported weight.
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline