France was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Cartridges, shells and other projectiles for firearms and artillery, used by armed forces, police and civilian shooters. Demand follows defense budgets and hunting and sport shooting activity.
Typical segments
- Small arms ammunition
- Artillery shells
- Shotgun cartridges
- Precision munitions
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 930630 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 rose 3% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 88% 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 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 930630 (Cartridges for smooth-barrelled shotguns, revolvers and pistols and cartridges for). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, South Africa 2022, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia.
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 93063010 (Cartridges and parts thereof for revolvers and pistols of heading 9302 and for), 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 $70.2 million under HS code 930630 (Cartridges for smooth-barrelled shotguns, revolvers and pistols and cartridges for) in their latest year with data (2025 for 9 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 2 and 2022 for 1). | 70.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 930630 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were up 3% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $9.6 million to $9.9 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +3 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Oman was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $41.5 million in 2025, or 59% of the total. | 41.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $11.3 million in 2022. | 11.3 USD million | 2022 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $48.5 million, or 69% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 48.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $21.7 million, or 31% of the total. | 21.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| France was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 85% of its reported imports, with $21.0 million, or 35% of their imports under HS 930630 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 21.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 930630 was $37.52 per kilogram across the 14 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 37.52 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 93063010 (Cartridges and parts thereof for revolvers and pistols of heading 9302 and for) to the 6 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.6 million in 2025. | 1.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 93063010 to these countries were up 88% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €854 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +88 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Nigeria was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 93063010 in 2025, at €934 thousand. | 934 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=930630 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=5444071; BHR2024=12302; CIV2025=2209902; EGY2025=249718; ETH2023=300; GHA2025=1024322; KEN2025=81002; KWT2025=140909; MAR2025=118442; NGA2025=6660865; OMN2025=41451883; QAT2024=1465945; TUN2024=413; TZA2025=15095; ZAF2022=11345527; sum=70220694
- Figure 3
reporterCode 512, period 2025, cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 41451883; share of 70220694 = 59% (shown as 41.5 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT = 48515109; share 69%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 21705585; share 31%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 70102252 / sum of netWgt 1868381 kg = 37.52 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 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR CIV EGY KEN KWT NGA QAT TUN TZA: 2020 = 9597285; 2024 = 9929521; change +3%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2022, cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 11345527
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 930630, flowCode M, partnerCode 251, primaryValue summed over reporters = 21026960; world 59458275; share 35%
- 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 93063010, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=288124; KE=60075; NG=933573; OM=4796; SA=3250; ZA=311929; sum 1601747
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 93063010, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 853578; 2025 = 1601747; change +88%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 93063010, partner NG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 933573 (shown as 934 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Armed forces
- Law enforcement agencies
- Sport shooters and hunters
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 93063010, 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 ammunition market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $70.2 million under HS code 930630 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most ammunition?
Oman was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import ammunition from?
France was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included South Korea, the United States and Bulgaria.
How do GCC and African imports of ammunition compare?
The GCC countries with data took $48.5 million, or 69% of the total, and the African countries with data took $21.7 million, or 31%, each in its latest reported year.
How much ammunition does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 93063010 to the countries covered of €1.6 million in 2025. Nigeria was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of ammunition in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $37.52 per kilogram for HS 930630, across the countries that reported weight.
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