The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Cured and often smoked pork belly or back cuts sold sliced, in packs or as cooked bits. Buyers are households, restaurants and food makers.
Typical segments
- Streaky bacon
- Back bacon
- Turkey bacon
- Precooked bacon
- Bacon bits
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 021012 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 7 countries reporting every year rose 11% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 5% 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 13 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 021012 (Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of swine, salted, in brine, dried or smoked). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2021, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Kenya 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2022, Qatar 2024, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia.
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 02101219 (Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine, dried or smoked), 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 13 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $1.9 million under HS code 021012 (Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of swine, salted, in brine, dried or smoked) in their latest year with data (2025 for 6 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 2, 2022 for 1 and 2021 for 1). | 1.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 021012 by the 7 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 11% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $1.4 million to $1.5 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +11 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $1.3 million in 2023, or 66% of the total. | 1.3 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Qatar followed with $270 thousand in 2024. | 270 USD thousand | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The 3 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $1.6 million, or 81% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 1.6 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $368 thousand, or 19% of the total. | 368 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 89% of its reported imports, with $679 thousand, or 39% of their imports under HS 021012 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 679 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 021012 was $6.54 per kilogram across the 13 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 6.54 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 02101219 (Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine, dried or smoked) to the 11 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €670 thousand in 2025. | 670 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 02101219 to these countries were down 5% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €704 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | -5 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 02101219 in 2025, at €430 thousand. | 430 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=021012 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1282221; BHR2024=13510; CIV2025=172771; EGY2021=2296; ETH2023=6571; GHA2025=13962; KEN2025=3219; MAR2025=134927; NGA2022=12384; QAT2024=270264; TUN2024=21462; TZA2025=249; ZAF2025=366; sum=1934201
- Figure 2
cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE CIV ETH KEN MAR TUN ZAF: 2020 = 1359173; 2023 = 1503900; change +11%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1282221; share of 1934201 = 66% (shown as 1.3 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR QAT = 1565995; share 81% (shown as 1.6 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 368206; share 19%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1934201 / sum of netWgt 295736 kg = 6.54 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 634, period 2024, cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 270264
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 021012, flowCode M, partnerCode 528, primaryValue summed over reporters = 678708; world 1725256; share 39% (shown as 679 USD thousand)
- 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 02101219, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=430229; CI=6921; EG=11808; GH=21391; IL=3836; JO=3961; KE=1282; MA=32967; NG=32060; QA=123574; ZA=1477; sum 669506 (shown as 670 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 02101219, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 703691; 2025 = 669506; change -5%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 02101219, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 430229
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Households
- Restaurants and quick service chains
- Food manufacturers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 02101219, 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 bacon market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.9 million under HS code 021012 by 13 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most bacon?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Qatar and Cote d'Ivoire.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import bacon from?
The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United States, France and Brazil.
How do GCC and African imports of bacon compare?
The GCC countries with data took $1.6 million, or 81% of the total, and the African countries with data took $368 thousand, or 19%, each in its latest reported year.
How much bacon does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 02101219 to the countries covered of €670 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of bacon in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $6.54 per kilogram for HS 021012, across the countries that reported weight.
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