Egypt was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Beekeeping for honey, wax, pollination services and live bees. Buyers include food makers, growers who rent hives and retailers.
Typical segments
- Honey production
- Pollination services
- Queen and package bee sales
- Beeswax and hive products
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 010641 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 fell 2% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 65% 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 14 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 010641 (Live bees). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Egypt 2025, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Tunisia, Tanzania.
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 01064100 (Live bees), 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 14 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $31.5 million under HS code 010641 (Live bees) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 1). | 31.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 010641 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were down 2% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $27.5 million to $26.9 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -2 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $13.3 million in 2025, or 42% of the total. | 13.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Morocco followed with $10.4 million in 2025. | 10.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $20.9 million, or 66% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 20.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 6 African countries with data accounted for $10.5 million, or 33% of the total. | 10.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 92% of its reported imports, with $18.0 million, or 62% of their imports under HS 010641 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 18.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 010641 was $8.10 per kilogram across the 11 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 8.10 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 01064100 (Live bees) to the 10 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €5.8 million in 2025. | 5.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 01064100 to these countries were up 65% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €3.5 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +65 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 01064100 in 2025, at €4.8 million. | 4.8 EUR million | 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=010641 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=5351791; BHR2024=23955; DZA2024=24641; EGY2025=97616; GHA2025=1871; ISR2025=20000; JOR2024=77343; KWT2025=1661976; MAR2025=10382574; NGA2025=368; OMN2025=85743; QAT2024=421257; SAU2025=13325436; ZAF2024=7390; sum=31481960 (shown as 31.5 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 13325436; share of 31481960 = 42%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 504, period 2025, cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 10382574 (shown as 10.4 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 20870157; share 66% (shown as 20.9 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for DZA EGY GHA MAR NGA ZAF = 10514460; share 33%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 31352313 / sum of netWgt 3872249 kg = 8.10 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 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR ISR JOR KWT MAR OMN QAT SAU: 2020 = 27464303; 2024 = 26899443; change -2%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 010641, flowCode M, partnerCode 818, primaryValue summed over reporters = 17995820; world 29059801; share 62% (shown as 18.0 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 01064100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=267094; DZ=33440; EG=19553; IL=4118; JO=47445; MA=4812327; OM=48509; QA=26245; SA=179716; TN=373136; sum 5811583
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 01064100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 3515723; 2025 = 5811583; change +65%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 01064100, partner MA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 4812327
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food manufacturers
- Fruit and crop growers
- Retailers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 01064100, 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 apiculture market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $31.5 million under HS code 010641 by 14 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most apiculture?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import apiculture from?
Egypt was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Spain, Belgium and Slovakia.
How do GCC and African imports of apiculture compare?
The GCC countries with data took $20.9 million, or 66% of the total, and the African countries with data took $10.5 million, or 33%, each in its latest reported year.
How much apiculture does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 01064100 to the countries covered of €5.8 million in 2025. Morocco was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of apiculture in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $8.10 per kilogram for HS 010641, across the countries that reported weight.
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