Indonesia was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Edible oil extracted from microalgae, used for cooking and as a plant source of omega-3 fats. Buyers are food makers, supplement brands and retailers.
Typical segments
- DHA algae oil
- High oleic algae oil
- Culinary oil
- Encapsulated oil
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 151560 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
- 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 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 151560 (Microbial fats and oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2024, Egypt 2024, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia, Jordan, Qatar.
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 15156060 (Microbial fats and oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically), 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 15 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $27.8 million under HS code 151560 (Microbial fats and oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically) in their latest year with data (2025 for 10 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 1). | 27.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Tanzania was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $27.3 million in 2025, or 98% of the total. | 27.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $400 thousand in 2025. | 400 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $435 thousand, or 2% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 435 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $27.4 million, or 98% of the total. | 27.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Indonesia was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 100% of its reported imports, with $14.4 million, or 52% of their imports under HS 151560 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 14.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 151560 was $0.16 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.16 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 15156060 (Microbial fats and oils and their fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €8 thousand in 2024. | 8 EUR thousand | 2024 | Eurostat |
| Algeria was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 15156060 in 2024, at €8 thousand. | 8 EUR thousand | 2024 | 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=151560 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=15156; BHR2024=3034; CIV2024=36; EGY2024=36; GHA2025=560; ISR2025=14000; KEN2025=2869; KWT2025=16409; MAR2025=12; NGA2025=441; OMN2025=577; SAU2025=399675; TUN2024=247; TZA2025=27289223; ZAF2025=106829; sum=27849106
- Figure 2
reporterCode 834, period 2025, cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 27289223; share of 27849106 = 98% (shown as 27.3 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 399675 (shown as 400 USD thousand)
- Figure 4
cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 434851; share 2% (shown as 435 USD thousand)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 27400254; share 98%
- Figure 7
cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 27849106 / sum of netWgt 174347056 kg = 0.16 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 151560, flowCode M, partnerCode 360, primaryValue summed over reporters = 14426112; world 27795728; share 52%
- 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 15156060, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2024: DZ=7582; sum 7582
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15156060, partner DZ, flow export, 2024, VALUE_IN_EUROS 7582
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food manufacturers
- Supplement brands
- Retailers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2024
Eurostat Comext, CN 15156060, 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 algae oil market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $27.8 million under HS code 151560 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most algae oil?
Tanzania was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import algae oil from?
Indonesia was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey.
How do GCC and African imports of algae oil compare?
The GCC countries with data took $435 thousand, or 2% of the total, and the African countries with data took $27.4 million, or 98%, each in its latest reported year.
How much algae oil does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 15156060 to the countries covered of €8 thousand in 2024. Algeria was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of algae oil in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.16 per kilogram for HS 151560, across the countries that reported weight.
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