EU exports to the countries covered were €9.4 million in 2025.
What this market covers
Aromatic solvents are hydrocarbon liquids such as toluene and xylene used to thin paints, clean surfaces and make chemicals. Buyers are paint makers, resin producers and industrial cleaners.
Typical segments
- Toluene
- Xylene
- Heavy aromatic naphtha
- Solvent naphtha
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 270730 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 11 countries reporting every year rose 96% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 26% 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 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 270730 (Xylol "xylenes" containing > 50% of xylenes). 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.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 27073000 (Xylol "xylenes" containing > 50% of xylenes), 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 $19.7 million under HS code 270730 (Xylol "xylenes" containing > 50% of xylenes) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 19.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 270730 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 96% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $7.5 million to $14.8 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +96 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $6.0 million in 2025, or 30% of the total. | 6.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Kenya followed with $3.0 million in 2025. | 3.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $4.9 million, or 25% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 4.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $13.5 million, or 68% of the total. | 13.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 270730 was $1.00 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.00 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 27073000 (Xylol "xylenes" containing > 50% of xylenes) to the 13 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €9.4 million in 2025. | 9.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 27073000 to these countries were down 26% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €12.7 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -26 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 27073000 in 2025, at €5.9 million. | 5.9 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=270730 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=2316830; BHR2024=5390; CIV2025=85617; DZA2024=1850; EGY2025=5952907; ETH2023=456466; GHA2025=396603; ISR2025=7000; JOR2024=1406167; KEN2025=2989401; KWT2025=19085; MAR2025=219803; NGA2025=1264120; OMN2025=36817; QAT2024=130314; SAU2025=2360504; TUN2024=265333; TZA2025=368210; ZAF2025=1452911; sum=19735328
- Figure 2
cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 7546615; 2025 = 14756375; change +96%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 5952907; share of 19735328 = 30% (shown as 6.0 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 404, period 2025, cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2989401
- Figure 5
cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 4868939; share 25% (shown as 4.9 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 13453222; share 68% (shown as 13.5 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 270730, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 18471208 / sum of netWgt 18559685 kg = 1.00 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- 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 27073000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=177; CI=50879; DZ=21137; EG=764434; GH=198114; IL=5389; KE=10184; MA=1408717; NG=249234; OM=5817; SA=2336; TN=816760; ZA=5850096; sum 9383274 (shown as 9.4 EUR million)
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 27073000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 12729369; 2025 = 9383274; change -26%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 27073000, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 5850096 (shown as 5.9 EUR million)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Paint and coating makers
- Resin producers
- Industrial cleaners
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 27073000, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa aromatic solvent market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $19.7 million under HS code 270730 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most aromatic solvent?
Egypt was the largest importer, followed by Kenya and Saudi Arabia.
How do GCC and African imports of aromatic solvent compare?
The GCC countries with data took $4.9 million, or 25% of the total, and the African countries with data took $13.5 million, or 68%, each in its latest reported year.
How much aromatic solvent does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 27073000 to the countries covered of €9.4 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of aromatic solvent in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.00 per kilogram for HS 270730, across the countries that reported weight.
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