China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A skin soothing compound used in creams, lotions, shampoos and oral care products. Buyers are cosmetic makers, pharmaceutical firms and personal care brands.
Typical segments
- Cosmetic grade allantoin
- Pharmaceutical grade allantoin
- Natural allantoin
- Allantoin derivatives
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 293321 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 fell 22% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 25% 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 293321 (Hydantoin and its derivatives). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 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, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Bahrain, 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 29332100 (Hydantoin and its derivatives), 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 $4.2 million under HS code 293321 (Hydantoin and its derivatives) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 3 and 2023 for 2). | 4.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 293321 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 22% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $4.3 million to $3.4 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -22 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $975 thousand in 2025, or 23% of the total. | 975 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel followed with $869 thousand in 2025. | 869 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 4 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $614 thousand, or 15% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 614 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $2.6 million, or 62% of the total. | 2.6 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 $1.2 million, or 37% of their imports under HS 293321 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 1.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 293321 was $4.13 per kilogram across the 14 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 4.13 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29332100 (Hydantoin and its derivatives) to the 13 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €647 thousand in 2025. | 647 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29332100 to these countries were down 25% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €866 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | -25 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29332100 in 2025, at €228 thousand. | 228 EUR thousand | 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=293321 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=336904; CIV2025=379233; DZA2024=156273; EGY2025=551735; ETH2023=29073; GHA2025=28802; ISR2025=869000; JOR2024=124621; KEN2025=58667; KWT2025=2516; MAR2025=141980; NGA2025=145613; OMN2025=1685; SAU2025=273077; TUN2024=90993; TZA2025=14904; ZAF2025=974564; sum=4179640
- Figure 2
cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN MAR NGA SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 4345494; 2025 = 3408773; change -22%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 974564; share of 4179640 = 23% (shown as 975 USD thousand)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 869000
- Figure 5
cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN SAU = 614182; share 15%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 2571836; share 62% (shown as 2.6 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 2756389 / sum of netWgt 667124 kg = 4.13 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 293321, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 1236343; world 3384513; share 37%
- 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 29332100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=6696; CI=107016; DZ=57903; EG=77566; ET=86; IL=228214; JO=6879; KE=1952; MA=4470; QA=5178; SA=14154; TN=27039; ZA=109352; sum 646505 (shown as 647 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29332100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 865547; 2025 = 646505; change -25%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29332100, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 228214
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Cosmetic makers
- Pharmaceutical firms
- Personal care brands
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29332100, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa allantoin market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $4.2 million under HS code 293321 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most allantoin?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by Israel and Egypt.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import allantoin from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the Netherlands, the United States and Italy.
How do GCC and African imports of allantoin compare?
The GCC countries with data took $614 thousand, or 15% of the total, and the African countries with data took $2.6 million, or 62%, each in its latest reported year.
How much allantoin does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29332100 to the countries covered of €647 thousand in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of allantoin in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $4.13 per kilogram for HS 293321, across the countries that reported weight.
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