Indonesia was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Areca nut is the seed of the areca palm, chewed in many Asian countries and used in traditional products. Buyers are processors, traders and manufacturers of chewing products.
Typical segments
- Raw whole nuts
- Processed and sliced nuts
- Flavoured chewing products
- Dried nut for export
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 080280 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 13% from 2022 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 080280 (Fresh or dried areca nuts, whether or not shelled or peeled). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2023, Cote d'Ivoire 2024, Egypt 2022, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2023, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2020, Oman 2025, Qatar 2020, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tunisia.
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 08028000 (Fresh or dried areca nuts, whether or not shelled or peeled), 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 $7.1 million under HS code 080280 (Fresh or dried areca nuts, whether or not shelled or peeled) in their latest year with data (2025 for 7 countries, 2024 for 2, 2023 for 3, 2022 for 1 and 2020 for 2). | 7.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $4.1 million in 2023, or 58% of the total. | 4.1 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Kuwait followed with $1.2 million in 2025. | 1.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $6.3 million, or 89% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 6.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 7 African countries with data accounted for $721 thousand, or 10% of the total. | 721 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Indonesia was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 88% of its reported imports, with $3.8 million, or 61% of their imports under HS 080280 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 3.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 080280 was $1.62 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.62 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 08028000 (Fresh or dried areca nuts, whether or not shelled or peeled) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €4 thousand in 2025. | 4 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 08028000 to these countries were down 13% in 2025 compared with 2022 (the first year with data for this code), when they were €4 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | -13 % since 2022 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 08028000 in 2025, at €4 thousand. | 4 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=080280 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=4114796; BHR2023=21686; CIV2024=1732; EGY2022=11340; GHA2025=238; ISR2025=55000; JOR2023=5372; KEN2025=11644; KWT2025=1172369; MAR2020=300226; OMN2025=17020; QAT2020=39511; SAU2025=938770; TZA2024=99; ZAF2025=395601; sum=7085404 (shown as 7.1 USD million)
- Figure 2
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 4114796; share of 7085404 = 58%
- Figure 4
cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 6304152; share 89%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY GHA KEN MAR TZA ZAF = 720880; share 10% (shown as 721 USD thousand)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 7085404 / sum of netWgt 4382404 kg = 1.62 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 414, period 2025, cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1172369 (shown as 1.2 USD million)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 080280, flowCode M, partnerCode 360, primaryValue summed over reporters = 3811812; world 6225936; share 61%
- 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 08028000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: MA=3663; sum 3663
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 08028000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2022 = 4219; 2025 = 3663; change -13%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 08028000, partner MA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3663
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Processors and traders
- Chewing product makers
- Export wholesalers
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
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa areca nut market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $7.1 million under HS code 080280 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most areca nut?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import areca nut from?
Indonesia was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United States, Myanmar and China.
How do GCC and African imports of areca nut compare?
The GCC countries with data took $6.3 million, or 89% of the total, and the African countries with data took $721 thousand, or 10%, each in its latest reported year.
How much areca nut does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 08028000 to the countries covered of €4 thousand in 2025. Morocco was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of areca nut in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.62 per kilogram for HS 080280, across the countries that reported weight.
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline