Italy was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Artichokes are edible flower buds sold fresh, canned, jarred and frozen, and used for extracts. Buyers are retailers, food processors, restaurants and extract makers.
Typical segments
- Fresh globe artichokes
- Canned and jarred hearts
- Frozen artichokes
- Artichoke extract
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 070991 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 9 countries reporting every year fell 83% from 2021 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 277% 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 17 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 070991 (Fresh or chilled globe artichokes). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2023, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2021, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2022, Tunisia 2021, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Israel.
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 07099100 (Fresh or chilled globe artichokes), 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 17 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $1.8 million under HS code 070991 (Fresh or chilled globe artichokes) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 3, 2022 for 1 and 2021 for 2). | 1.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 070991 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2024 were down 83% in 2024 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $3.7 million to $620 thousand, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -83 % since 2021 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $708 thousand in 2023, or 39% of the total. | 708 USD thousand | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $322 thousand in 2025. | 322 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $1.4 million, or 77% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 1.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $340 thousand, or 19% of the total. | 340 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Italy was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 85% of its reported imports, with $479 thousand, or 31% of their imports under HS 070991 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 479 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 070991 was $2.47 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 2.47 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 07099100 (Fresh or chilled globe artichokes) to the 9 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €306 thousand in 2025. | 306 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 07099100 to these countries were up 277% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €81 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +277 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 07099100 in 2025, at €244 thousand. | 244 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=070991 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=707681; BHR2024=28770; CIV2025=27902; EGY2023=259; ETH2023=515; GHA2025=2540; JOR2024=68353; KEN2021=307; KWT2025=196566; MAR2025=3598; NGA2025=301121; OMN2025=22211; QAT2024=108320; SAU2025=321935; TUN2021=2459; TZA2022=3; ZAF2025=1017; sum=1793558 (shown as 1.8 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 321935 (shown as 322 USD thousand)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 1385483; share 77% (shown as 1.4 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 339721; share 19% (shown as 340 USD thousand)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1793558 / sum of netWgt 726059 kg = 2.47 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 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR CIV GHA JOR KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU: 2021 = 3694118; 2024 = 619990; change -83%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 707681; share of 1793558 = 39% (shown as 708 USD thousand)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 070991, flowCode M, partnerCode 380, primaryValue summed over reporters = 479401; world 1527304; share 31%
- 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 07099100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=244442; BH=4033; CI=3501; JO=108; KW=1066; MA=1099; OM=984; QA=24521; SA=26371; sum 306125
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07099100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 81184; 2025 = 306125; change +277%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07099100, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 244442
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Grocery retailers
- Food processors
- Restaurants and caterers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 07099100, 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 artichokes market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.8 million under HS code 070991 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most artichokes?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import artichokes from?
Italy was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included France, Spain and the Netherlands.
How do GCC and African imports of artichokes compare?
The GCC countries with data took $1.4 million, or 77% of the total, and the African countries with data took $340 thousand, or 19%, each in its latest reported year.
How much artichokes does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 07099100 to the countries covered of €306 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of artichokes in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $2.47 per kilogram for HS 070991, across the countries that reported weight.
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