China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A gel forming substance taken from brown seaweed, used as a thickener in food, medicine and textile printing. Buyers are food makers, wound care firms and drug makers.
Typical segments
- Sodium alginate
- Calcium alginate
- Propylene glycol alginate
- Pharma grade alginate
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 391310 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 rose 19% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 32% 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 391310 (Alginic acid, its salts and esters, in primary forms). 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 39131000 (Alginic acid, its salts and esters, in primary forms), 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 $15.4 million under HS code 391310 (Alginic acid, its salts and esters, in primary forms) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 15.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 391310 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 19% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $8.1 million to $9.6 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +19 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Algeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $3.7 million in 2024, or 24% of the total. | 3.7 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $2.8 million in 2025. | 2.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $3.9 million, or 25% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 3.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $10.5 million, or 69% of the total. | 10.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 6 largest importing countries in the region, which took 82% of its reported imports, with $2.9 million, or 23% of their imports under HS 391310 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 2.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 391310 was $9.87 per kilogram across the 19 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 9.87 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 39131000 (Alginic acid, its salts and esters, in primary forms) to the 16 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €3.6 million in 2025. | 3.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39131000 to these countries were up 32% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2.7 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +32 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 39131000 in 2025, at €1.2 million. | 1.2 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=391310 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=390977; BHR2024=196657; CIV2025=223138; DZA2024=3684568; EGY2025=2389471; ETH2023=39736; GHA2025=727359; ISR2025=856000; JOR2024=87606; KEN2025=283694; KWT2025=16735; MAR2025=586395; NGA2025=154734; OMN2025=78710; QAT2024=455320; SAU2025=2760432; TUN2024=141759; TZA2025=141425; ZAF2025=2171314; sum=15386032
- Figure 2
cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 8121794; 2025 = 9645313; change +19%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2760432 (shown as 2.8 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 3898832; share 25%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 10543594; share 69%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 15386032 / sum of netWgt 1559650 kg = 9.87 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 12, period 2024, cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 3684568; share of 15386032 = 24% (shown as 3.7 USD million)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 391310, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 2856943; world 12589144; share 23% (shown as 2.9 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 39131000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=225932; BH=51410; CI=36500; DZ=272954; EG=196101; GH=31203; IL=103021; JO=149193; KE=89653; KW=5438; MA=12006; NG=571; QA=890; SA=1168740; TN=54592; ZA=1204764; sum 3602968
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39131000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 2720425; 2025 = 3602968; change +32%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39131000, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1204764
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food manufacturers
- Wound care firms
- Pharmaceutical makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 39131000, 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
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa alginate market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $15.4 million under HS code 391310 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most alginate?
Algeria was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import alginate from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Norway, Spain and France.
How do GCC and African imports of alginate compare?
The GCC countries with data took $3.9 million, or 25% of the total, and the African countries with data took $10.5 million, or 69%, each in its latest reported year.
How much alginate does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 39131000 to the countries covered of €3.6 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of alginate in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $9.87 per kilogram for HS 391310, across the countries that reported weight.
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