Italy was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A forage legume grown for animal feed, sold as meal, pellets, cubes and seed. Buyers are dairy farms, feed mills and horse owners.
Typical segments
- Alfalfa meal and pellets
- Alfalfa cubes
- Alfalfa seed
- Alfalfa sprouts
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 121410 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 13 countries reporting every year fell 37% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 14% 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 17 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 121410 (Alfalfa meal and pellets). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Egypt 2021, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2024, 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, Kenya.
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 12141000 (Alfalfa meal and pellets), 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 17 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $264.7 million under HS code 121410 (Alfalfa meal and pellets) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 5, 2023 for 3 and 2021 for 1). | 264.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 121410 by the 13 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were down 37% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $433.9 million to $272.5 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -37 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $178.4 million in 2023, or 67% of the total. | 178.4 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $43.6 million in 2025. | 43.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $246.3 million, or 93% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 246.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $8.3 million, or 3% of the total. | 8.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Italy was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 88% of its reported imports, with $65.4 million, or 28% of their imports under HS 121410 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 65.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 121410 was $0.33 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.33 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 12141000 (Alfalfa meal and pellets) to the 13 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €50.4 million in 2025. | 50.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 12141000 to these countries were down 14% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €58.7 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -14 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 12141000 in 2025, at €27.0 million. | 27.0 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=121410 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=178416842; BHR2024=1683018; CIV2023=8973; EGY2021=6; ETH2023=259; GHA2025=8253; ISR2025=1399000; JOR2024=8734689; KWT2025=8851990; MAR2025=6529183; NGA2024=5305; OMN2025=2232375; QAT2024=11520386; SAU2025=43565980; TUN2024=1493799; TZA2025=10966; ZAF2025=222695; sum=264683717 (shown as 264.7 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR CIV ISR JOR KWT MAR OMN QAT SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 433868849; 2023 = 272515402; change -37%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 178416842; share of 264683717 = 67%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 246270589; share 93% (shown as 246.3 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 8279439; share 3% (shown as 8.3 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 264678412 / sum of netWgt 805529629 kg = 0.33 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 682, period 2025, cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 43565980 (shown as 43.6 USD million)
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 121410, flowCode M, partnerCode 380, primaryValue summed over reporters = 65447126; world 233503208; share 28%
- 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 12141000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=6391401; BH=5406; EG=1179829; GH=6094; IL=1924822; JO=5830245; KW=595226; MA=4866302; OM=125115; QA=1255437; SA=27022233; TN=1239094; TZ=8318; sum 50449522
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12141000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 58663372; 2025 = 50449522; change -14%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 12141000, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 27022233
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Dairy farms
- Feed mills
- Horse owners
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 12141000, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa alfalfa market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $264.7 million under HS code 121410 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most alfalfa?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import alfalfa from?
Italy was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Spain, Romania and South Sudan.
How do GCC and African imports of alfalfa compare?
The GCC countries with data took $246.3 million, or 93% of the total, and the African countries with data took $8.3 million, or 3%, each in its latest reported year.
How much alfalfa does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 12141000 to the countries covered of €50.4 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of alfalfa in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.33 per kilogram for HS 121410, across the countries that reported weight.
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