China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
An aromatic ether used as a solvent and as an intermediate for perfumes, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Specialty chemical makers buy it in drums and tanks.
Typical segments
- Pharmaceutical intermediates
- Fragrance intermediates
- Agrochemical intermediates
- Solvent use
- Electronics grade
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 290930 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 fell 1% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 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 18 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 290930 (Aromatic ethers and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2023, 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 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 29093090 (Aromatic ethers and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated 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 18 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $17.6 million under HS code 290930 (Aromatic ethers and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 3 and 2023 for 3). | 17.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 290930 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 1% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $15.2 million to $15.1 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -1 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $8.9 million in 2025, or 51% of the total. | 8.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $2.2 million in 2025. | 2.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $3.5 million, or 20% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 3.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $4.5 million, or 26% of the total. | 4.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 5 largest importing countries in the region, which took 85% of its reported imports, with $7.2 million, or 48% of their imports under HS 290930 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 7.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 290930 was $6.81 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 6.81 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29093090 (Aromatic ethers and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives) to the 15 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.8 million in 2025. | 1.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29093090 to these countries were up 25% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €1.5 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +25 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29093090 in 2025, at €885 thousand. | 885 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=290930 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1252040; BHR2023=3570; CIV2025=344348; DZA2024=387696; EGY2025=1186771; ETH2023=198; GHA2025=5057; ISR2025=8894000; JOR2024=714837; KEN2025=65856; KWT2025=6556; MAR2025=879495; NGA2025=57679; OMN2025=4244; SAU2025=2231891; TUN2024=163854; TZA2025=84226; ZAF2025=1315033; sum=17597351 (shown as 17.6 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 15202536; 2025 = 15063543; change -1%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8894000; share of 17597351 = 51%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2231891
- Figure 5
cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 3498301; share 20% (shown as 3.5 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 4490213; share 26% (shown as 4.5 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 16330160 / sum of netWgt 2397143 kg = 6.81 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 290930, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 7185889; world 14879735; share 48% (shown as 7.2 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 29093090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=49146; CI=118742; DZ=1759; EG=885298; ET=6636; IL=159562; JO=26313; KE=1598; KW=755; MA=462250; OM=32620; QA=644; SA=1566; TN=20482; ZA=79818; sum 1847189
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29093090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 1476717; 2025 = 1847189; change +25%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29093090, partner EG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 885298
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Pharmaceutical makers
- Fragrance houses
- Agrochemical makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29093090, 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 anisole market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $17.6 million under HS code 290930 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most anisole?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import anisole from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Singapore, Spain and Italy.
How do GCC and African imports of anisole compare?
The GCC countries with data took $3.5 million, or 20% of the total, and the African countries with data took $4.5 million, or 26%, each in its latest reported year.
How much anisole does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29093090 to the countries covered of €1.8 million in 2025. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of anisole in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $6.81 per kilogram for HS 290930, across the countries that reported weight.
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