Germany was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Trains that run with automated driving and control, from partial automation to fully driverless operation. Railways, metro operators and freight lines buy the vehicles and signalling.
Typical segments
- Driverless metro
- Automated freight trains
- Signalling and control systems
- Onboard sensing
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 860110 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.
Why this market is moving now
- 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 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 860110 (Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Egypt 2020, Ghana 2025, Israel 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2024, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2024, Oman 2024, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia, Jordan, Tunisia.
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 86011000 (Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity), 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 15 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $128.7 million under HS code 860110 (Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity) in their latest year with data (2025 for 6 countries, 2024 for 6, 2023 for 2 and 2020 for 1). | 128.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $75.9 million in 2024, or 59% of the total. | 75.9 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $52.8 million in 2025. | 52.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $52.8 million, or 41% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 52.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 8 African countries with data accounted for $27 thousand, or 0% of the total. | 27 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Germany was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 100% of its reported imports, with $75.9 million, or 59% of their imports under HS 860110 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 75.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 860110 was $60.54 per kilogram across the 14 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 60.54 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 86011000 (Rail locomotives powered from an external source of electricity) to the 1 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €22 thousand in 2025. | 22 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 86011000 in 2025, at €22 thousand. | 22 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=860110 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=708; BHR2024=111; CIV2023=901; EGY2020=10985; GHA2025=3795; ISR2024=75906000; KEN2025=8447; KWT2024=922; MAR2025=1; NGA2024=2453; OMN2024=296; QAT2024=14828; SAU2025=52768001; TZA2025=165; ZAF2025=508; sum=128718122
- Figure 2
reporterCode 376, period 2024, cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 75906000; share of 128718122 = 59%
- Figure 4
cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 52784866; share 41% (shown as 52.8 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY GHA KEN MAR NGA TZA ZAF = 27256; share 0%
- Figure 7
cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 128717614 / sum of netWgt 2126143 kg = 60.54 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 52768001 (shown as 52.8 USD million)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 860110, flowCode M, partnerCode 276, primaryValue summed over reporters = 75906000; world 128688829; share 59%
- Figure 6
- 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 86011000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: SA=21808; sum 21808 (shown as 22 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 86011000, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 21808 (shown as 22 EUR thousand)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Metro operators
- National railways
- Freight rail companies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 86011000, 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 autonomous train market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $128.7 million under HS code 860110 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most autonomous train?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import autonomous train from?
Germany was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Austria and Thailand.
How do GCC and African imports of autonomous train compare?
The GCC countries with data took $52.8 million, or 41% of the total, and the African countries with data took $27 thousand, or 0%, each in its latest reported year.
How much autonomous train does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 86011000 to the countries covered of €22 thousand in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of autonomous train in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $60.54 per kilogram for HS 860110, across the countries that reported weight.
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