Italy was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
An inorganic salt added to the molten bath in aluminium smelting to lower its melting point and improve efficiency. It is also used in ceramics and glazes.
Typical segments
- Smelting grade
- Dry process grade
- Wet process grade
- Ceramic grade
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 282612 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 8 countries reporting every year rose 17% from 2020 to 2023.
- 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 16 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 282612 (Fluoride of aluminium). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Kenya 2021, Morocco 2023, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2020, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Cote d'Ivoire, Jordan, Kuwait.
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 28261200 (Fluoride of aluminium), 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 16 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $148.2 million under HS code 282612 (Fluoride of aluminium) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 3, 2021 for 1 and 2020 for 1). | 148.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 282612 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 17% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $129.5 million to $151.8 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +17 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Bahrain was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $47.3 million in 2024, or 32% of the total. | 47.3 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $25.5 million in 2023. | 25.5 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $121.0 million, or 82% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 121.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $27.2 million, or 18% of the total. | 27.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Italy was the largest supplier to the 5 largest importing countries in the region, which took 89% of its reported imports, with $53.8 million, or 41% of their imports under HS 282612 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 53.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 282612 was $1.67 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.67 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28261200 (Fluoride of aluminium) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €3.7 million in 2024. | 3.7 EUR million | 2024 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28261200 in 2024, at €3.7 million. | 3.7 EUR million | 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=282612 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=25535149; BHR2024=47345234; DZA2024=67; EGY2025=1804; ETH2023=421; GHA2025=2224134; ISR2025=13000; KEN2021=164; MAR2023=1254; NGA2025=141629; OMN2025=14235953; QAT2024=19972506; SAU2025=13875932; TUN2020=33990; TZA2025=628; ZAF2025=24769565; sum=148151430 (shown as 148.2 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 48, period 2024, cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 47345234; share of 148151430 = 32%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR OMN QAT SAU = 120964775; share 82% (shown as 121.0 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 27173656; share 18% (shown as 27.2 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 148151430 / sum of netWgt 88592646 kg = 1.67 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 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR EGY ETH OMN QAT SAU ZAF: 2020 = 129537094; 2023 = 151831741; change +17%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 25535149
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 282612, flowCode M, partnerCode 380, primaryValue summed over reporters = 53761635; world 131858407; share 41% (shown as 53.8 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 28261200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2024: EG=3665451; sum 3665451 (shown as 3.7 EUR million)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28261200, partner EG, flow export, 2024, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3665451 (shown as 3.7 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Aluminium smelters
- Ceramic makers
- Fluorochemical producers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2024
Eurostat Comext, CN 28261200, 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 aluminum fluoride market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $148.2 million under HS code 282612 by 16 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most aluminum fluoride?
Bahrain was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import aluminum fluoride from?
Italy was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Tunisia, China and the United Arab Emirates.
How do GCC and African imports of aluminum fluoride compare?
The GCC countries with data took $121.0 million, or 82% of the total, and the African countries with data took $27.2 million, or 18%, each in its latest reported year.
How much aluminum fluoride does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28261200 to the countries covered of €3.7 million in 2024. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of aluminum fluoride in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.67 per kilogram for HS 282612, across the countries that reported weight.
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