The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Dried alfalfa cut and baled as feed for dairy cattle, horses and other livestock. Buyers are dairy farms, equine stables and hay exporters.
Typical segments
- Dairy quality hay
- Horse quality hay
- Compressed bales
- Export hay cubes
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 121490 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 9 countries reporting every year rose 45% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 27% 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 18 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 121490 (Swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, lucerne "alfalfa", clover, sainfoin, forage kale,). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2021, 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 2022, 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 12149090 (Hay, lucerne, clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches and similar forage products), 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 $667.5 million under HS code 121490 (Swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, lucerne "alfalfa", clover, sainfoin, forage kale,) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 1, 2022 for 1 and 2021 for 1). | 667.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 121490 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were up 45% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $290.4 million to $420.9 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +45 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $364.9 million in 2025, or 55% of the total. | 364.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $245.5 million in 2023. | 245.5 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $647.8 million, or 97% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 647.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $12.8 million, or 2% of the total. | 12.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 95% of its reported imports, with $273.6 million, or 43% of their imports under HS 121490 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 273.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 121490 was $0.44 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.44 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 12149090 (Hay, lucerne, clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches and similar forage products) to the 15 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €172.3 million in 2025. | 172.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 12149090 to these countries were down 27% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €235.3 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -27 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 12149090 in 2025, at €87.3 million. | 87.3 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=121490 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=245529364; BHR2024=442345; CIV2025=338; EGY2025=56534; ETH2021=396418; GHA2025=8963; ISR2025=319000; JOR2024=6546397; KEN2025=44; KWT2025=21858547; MAR2025=11744665; NGA2025=109214; OMN2025=3974531; QAT2024=11094275; SAU2025=364944803; TUN2024=24634; TZA2022=8662; ZAF2025=476368; sum=667535102
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 364944803; share of 667535102 = 55%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 647843864; share 97%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 12825841; share 2%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 422005738 / sum of netWgt 964742838 kg = 0.44 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 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR ISR JOR KWT MAR OMN QAT SAU ZAF: 2020 = 290442616; 2024 = 420859754; change +45%
- Figure 2
- 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 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 245529364
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 121490, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 273629247; world 632332714; share 43%
- 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 12149090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=87260525; BH=163445; CI=1051; DZ=2045; EG=94490; IL=199682; JO=20861277; KW=7166072; MA=8135637; NG=63320; OM=2042614; QA=3805532; SA=42530938; TN=50; ZA=22389; sum 172349067
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12149090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 235284723; 2025 = 172349067; change -27%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12149090, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 87260525 (shown as 87.3 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Dairy farms
- Equine stables
- Hay exporters
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 12149090, 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 alfalfa hay market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $667.5 million under HS code 121490 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most alfalfa hay?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import alfalfa hay from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Spain, Argentina and Egypt.
How do GCC and African imports of alfalfa hay compare?
The GCC countries with data took $647.8 million, or 97% of the total, and the African countries with data took $12.8 million, or 2%, each in its latest reported year.
How much alfalfa hay does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 12149090 to the countries covered of €172.3 million in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of alfalfa hay in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.44 per kilogram for HS 121490, 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