The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Vessels that sail with reduced crew or none, using sensors, automation and remote control from shore. Shipping lines, ports and navies buy or trial them.
Typical segments
- Remote controlled ships
- Autonomous ferries
- Unmanned cargo vessels
- Shore control centres
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 890190 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 47% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 396% 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 890190 (Vessels for the transport of goods and vessels for the transport of both persons and goods). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2022, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2024, Ethiopia 2022, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2024, Morocco 2024, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2023, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2020, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria.
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 89019010 (Sea-going vessels for the transport of goods and seagoing vessels for the transport of), 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 $220.9 million under HS code 890190 (Vessels for the transport of goods and vessels for the transport of both persons and goods) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 5, 2023 for 2, 2022 for 2 and 2020 for 1). | 220.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 890190 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were down 47% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $253.8 million to $135.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -47 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $52.8 million in 2025, or 24% of the total. | 52.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Nigeria followed with $52.7 million in 2025. | 52.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $32.9 million, or 15% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 32.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $128.8 million, or 58% of the total. | 128.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the 6 largest importing countries in the region, which took 86% of its reported imports, with $56.9 million, or 30% of their imports under HS 890190 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 56.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 89019010 (Sea-going vessels for the transport of goods and seagoing vessels for the transport of) to the 6 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €81.7 million in 2025. | 81.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 89019010 to these countries were up 396% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €16.5 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +396 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 89019010 in 2025, at €51.9 million. | 51.9 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=890190 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=15983693; BHR2022=150032; CIV2025=231017; EGY2024=245547; ETH2022=24; GHA2025=11089; ISR2025=52778000; JOR2024=6440915; KEN2025=6990052; KWT2024=338232; MAR2024=22065361; NGA2025=52701109; OMN2025=206375; QAT2024=6369224; SAU2023=9847925; TUN2020=1129849; TZA2025=26500209; ZAF2025=18937129; sum=220925781
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 52778000; share of 220925781 = 24% (shown as 52.8 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 566, period 2025, cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 52701109
- Figure 5
cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 32895481; share 15% (shown as 32.9 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 128811385; share 58%
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE ISR KEN MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 253804632; 2023 = 135705070; change -47%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 890190, flowCode M, partnerCode 528, primaryValue summed over reporters = 56857979; world 188965501; share 30% (shown as 56.9 USD million)
- Figure 7
- 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 89019010, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=51881361; EG=18596392; IL=80000; OM=975000; QA=1891395; SA=8287500; sum 81711648
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89019010, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 16461655; 2025 = 81711648; change +396%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89019010, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 51881361 (shown as 51.9 EUR million)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Shipping lines
- Port authorities
- Navies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 89019010, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa autonomous ship market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $220.9 million under HS code 890190 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most autonomous ship?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Nigeria and Tanzania.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import autonomous ship from?
The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United States, China and Germany.
How do GCC and African imports of autonomous ship compare?
The GCC countries with data took $32.9 million, or 15% of the total, and the African countries with data took $128.8 million, or 58%, each in its latest reported year.
How much autonomous ship does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 89019010 to the countries covered of €81.7 million in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
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