China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Armored vehicles are military and civilian vehicles protected against bullets, blasts and fragments. Buyers are defence ministries, police forces and security firms.
Typical segments
- Tanks and fighting vehicles
- Armored personnel carriers
- Mine protected vehicles
- Civilian armored cars
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 871000 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 7 countries reporting every year rose 17% from 2021 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 291% 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 871000 (Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with). Each country's latest reported year is used: Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2022, Ethiopia 2021, Ghana 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
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 87100000 (Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with), 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 $145.8 million under HS code 871000 (Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with) in their latest year with data (2025 for 9 countries, 2024 for 2, 2023 for 1, 2022 for 1 and 2021 for 1). | 145.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 871000 by the 7 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2025 were up 17% in 2025 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $66.2 million to $77.3 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +17 % since 2021 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Kenya was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $42.8 million in 2025, or 29% of the total. | 42.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $33.2 million in 2025. | 33.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 3 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $1.6 million, or 1% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 1.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $137.5 million, or 94% of the total. | 137.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 83% of its reported imports, with $48.4 million, or 40% of their imports under HS 871000 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 48.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 871000 was $42.70 per kilogram across the 12 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 42.70 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 87100000 (Tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, motorised, whether or not fitted with) to the 9 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €51.7 million in 2025. | 51.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 87100000 to these countries were up 291% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €13.2 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +291 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 87100000 in 2025, at €24.9 million. | 24.9 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=871000 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=777837; CIV2025=5015118; EGY2022=22177; ETH2021=320; GHA2025=8500330; JOR2024=6703471; KEN2025=42813678; KWT2025=70852; MAR2025=14660947; NGA2025=29864327; OMN2025=712564; TUN2024=3464987; TZA2025=2747; ZAF2025=33155901; sum=145765256 (shown as 145.8 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV GHA KWT NGA OMN TZA ZAF: 2021 = 66160472; 2025 = 77321840; change +17%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 404, period 2025, cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 42813678; share of 145765256 = 29%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 33155901 (shown as 33.2 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN = 1561253; share 1% (shown as 1.6 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 137500531; share 94%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 82745028 / sum of netWgt 1938031 kg = 42.70 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 871000, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 48398475; world 120494852; share 40% (shown as 48.4 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 87100000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: DZ=122503; EG=1285080; IL=20028257; JO=57750; MA=3869725; NG=480713; QA=13422; SA=906975; ZA=24900071; sum 51664496 (shown as 51.7 EUR million)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 87100000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 13228099; 2025 = 51664496; change +291%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 87100000, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 24900071
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Defence ministries
- Police forces
- Security companies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 87100000, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa armored vehicle market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $145.8 million under HS code 871000 by 14 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most armored vehicle?
Kenya was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import armored vehicle from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Finland, South Africa and Germany.
How do GCC and African imports of armored vehicle compare?
The GCC countries with data took $1.6 million, or 1% of the total, and the African countries with data took $137.5 million, or 94%, each in its latest reported year.
How much armored vehicle does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 87100000 to the countries covered of €51.7 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of armored vehicle in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $42.70 per kilogram for HS 871000, across the countries that reported weight.
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