The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A coal tar chemical used mainly to make anthraquinone for dyes and as an intermediate in pigments and other organics. It is sold by coke and tar processors.
Typical segments
- Crude anthracene
- Anthracene oil
- Purified anthracene
- Anthraquinone feedstock
- Research grade
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 270799 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 14 countries reporting every year rose 660% from 2020 to 2024.
- 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 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 270799 (Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tars; similar). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 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, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
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 27079920 (Anthracene), 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 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $83.5 million under HS code 270799 (Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tars; similar) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 83.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 270799 by the 14 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were up 660% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $9.7 million to $73.8 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +660 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Qatar was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $42.4 million in 2024, or 51% of the total. | 42.4 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $21.3 million in 2025. | 21.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $75.3 million, or 90% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 75.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $4.7 million, or 6% of the total. | 4.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 90% of its reported imports, with $42.2 million, or 56% of their imports under HS 270799 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 42.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 270799 was $0.62 per kilogram across the 19 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.62 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 27079920 (Anthracene) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €0 thousand in 2023. | 0 EUR thousand | 2023 | Eurostat |
| Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 27079920 in 2023, at €0 thousand. | 0 EUR thousand | 2023 | 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=270799 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=11097054; BHR2024=5011; CIV2025=169776; DZA2024=197973; EGY2025=283329; ETH2023=9272; GHA2025=27268; ISR2025=3491000; JOR2024=65565; KEN2025=252697; KWT2025=400090; MAR2025=1332444; NGA2025=146327; OMN2025=13899; QAT2024=42444386; SAU2025=21321636; TUN2024=1265991; TZA2025=36818; ZAF2025=945686; sum=83506223
- Figure 2
cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR CIV EGY ISR JOR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN QAT SAU TUN ZAF: 2020 = 9715173; 2024 = 73825793; change +660%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 634, period 2024, cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 42444386; share of 83506223 = 51%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 75282076; share 90% (shown as 75.3 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 4667582; share 6% (shown as 4.7 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 83506223 / sum of netWgt 134907431 kg = 0.62 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 21321636
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 270799, flowCode M, partnerCode 528, primaryValue summed over reporters = 42155705; world 74863076; share 56% (shown as 42.2 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 27079920, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2023: MA=2; sum 2
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 27079920, partner MA, flow export, 2023, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Dye makers
- Tar distillers
- Specialty chemical makers
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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa anthracene market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $83.5 million under HS code 270799 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most anthracene?
Qatar was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import anthracene from?
The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Saudi Arabia, Germany and the United Kingdom.
How do GCC and African imports of anthracene compare?
The GCC countries with data took $75.3 million, or 90% of the total, and the African countries with data took $4.7 million, or 6%, each in its latest reported year.
How much anthracene does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 27079920 to the countries covered of €0 thousand in 2023. Morocco was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of anthracene in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.62 per kilogram for HS 270799, across the countries that reported weight.
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