China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Low calorie sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin used in drinks, foods and tabletop products. Food and beverage makers are the main buyers.
Typical segments
- Aspartame
- Sucralose
- Saccharin
- Acesulfame potassium
- Tabletop sweeteners
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 292511 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 10 countries reporting every year fell 10% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 21% 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 18 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 292511 (Saccharin and its salts). 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 2023, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Qatar.
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 29251100 (Saccharin and its salts), 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 18 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $8.1 million under HS code 292511 (Saccharin and its salts) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 3). | 8.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 292511 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 10% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $7.6 million to $6.8 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -10 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $3.2 million in 2025, or 39% of the total. | 3.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt followed with $745 thousand in 2025. | 745 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $839 thousand, or 10% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 839 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $6.9 million, or 84% of the total. | 6.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 7 largest importing countries in the region, which took 80% of its reported imports, with $4.9 million, or 76% of their imports under HS 292511 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 4.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 292511 was $4.87 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 4.87 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29251100 (Saccharin and its salts) to the 14 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.6 million in 2025. | 1.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29251100 to these countries were down 21% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2.0 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -21 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29251100 in 2025, at €403 thousand. | 403 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=292511 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=354350; BHR2024=2196; CIV2025=21507; DZA2024=408365; EGY2025=745192; ETH2023=120862; GHA2025=171873; ISR2025=371000; JOR2024=51348; KEN2025=725925; KWT2023=47915; MAR2025=296206; NGA2025=720280; OMN2025=50107; SAU2025=384534; TUN2024=118634; TZA2025=353210; ZAF2025=3180532; sum=8124036
- Figure 2
cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 7640557; 2025 = 6848493; change -10%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 3180532; share of 8124036 = 39%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 745192
- Figure 5
cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 839101; share 10%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 6862587; share 84% (shown as 6.9 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 7827829 / sum of netWgt 1607594 kg = 4.87 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 292511, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 4947408; world 6535828; share 76%
- 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 29251100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=68438; CI=15521; DZ=147394; EG=291533; GH=386; IL=16177; JO=22235; KW=10701; MA=267962; NG=77025; SA=152867; TN=113907; TZ=6236; ZA=402912; sum 1593294
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29251100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 2025497; 2025 = 1593294; change -21%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29251100, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 402912 (shown as 403 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Beverage makers
- Food manufacturers
- Retail brands
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29251100, 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 artificial sweetener market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $8.1 million under HS code 292511 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most artificial sweetener?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by Egypt and Kenya.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import artificial sweetener from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included South Korea, Thailand and Switzerland.
How do GCC and African imports of artificial sweetener compare?
The GCC countries with data took $839 thousand, or 10% of the total, and the African countries with data took $6.9 million, or 84%, each in its latest reported year.
How much artificial sweetener does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29251100 to the countries covered of €1.6 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of artificial sweetener in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $4.87 per kilogram for HS 292511, across the countries that reported weight.
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