The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A natural aluminium silicate mineral used mainly in heat resistant bricks and castables. Steel, foundry, glass and cement producers buy it for furnace linings.
Typical segments
- Refractory grade
- Foundry grade
- Fine and ground grades
- Calcined products
- Kiln furniture
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 250850 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
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 86% 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 250850 (Andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2024, Israel 2020, Kenya 2024, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2024, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Jordan, Nigeria.
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 25085000 (Andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite), 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 $1.1 million under HS code 250850 (Andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite) in their latest year with data (2025 for 7 countries, 2024 for 7, 2023 for 2 and 2020 for 1). | 1.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $649 thousand in 2023, or 60% of the total. | 649 USD thousand | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt followed with $141 thousand in 2025. | 141 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $778 thousand, or 72% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 778 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $301 thousand, or 28% of the total. | 301 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 82% of its reported imports, with $376 thousand, or 42% of their imports under HS 250850 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 376 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 250850 was $1.00 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.00 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 25085000 (Andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €5 thousand in 2025. | 5 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 25085000 to these countries were down 86% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €36 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | -86 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 25085000 in 2025, at €5 thousand. | 5 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=250850 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=649261; BHR2024=257; CIV2025=1264; DZA2024=11600; EGY2025=141126; ETH2023=13832; GHA2024=20804; ISR2020=2000; KEN2024=3346; KWT2025=57084; MAR2025=14445; OMN2025=53930; QAT2024=13291; SAU2024=4406; TUN2024=58; TZA2025=300; ZAF2025=94291; sum=1081296
- Figure 2
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 649261; share of 1081296 = 60%
- Figure 4
cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 778228; share 72%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR TUN TZA ZAF = 301068; share 28%
- Figure 7
cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1081296 / sum of netWgt 1083134 kg = 1.00 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 818, period 2025, cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 141126
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 250850, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 375855; world 884678; share 42% (shown as 376 USD thousand)
- 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 25085000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=4874; sum 4874
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25085000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 35898; 2025 = 4874; change -86%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 25085000, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4874
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Refractory makers
- Steel producers
- Foundries
Large suppliers to the countries covered
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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa andalusite market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.1 million under HS code 250850 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most andalusite?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Egypt and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import andalusite from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included France, South Africa and China.
How do GCC and African imports of andalusite compare?
The GCC countries with data took $778 thousand, or 72% of the total, and the African countries with data took $301 thousand, or 28%, each in its latest reported year.
How much andalusite does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 25085000 to the countries covered of €5 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of andalusite in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.00 per kilogram for HS 250850, across the countries that reported weight.
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