EU exports to the countries covered were €101 thousand in 2025.
What this market covers
Barbiturates are a class of sedative and anticonvulsant medicines that depress the central nervous system. They are used in seizure control, anaesthesia and some sedation, and are tightly regulated.
Typical segments
- Phenobarbital
- Short acting barbiturates
- Anaesthetic induction agents
- Veterinary formulations
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 293353 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 79% from 2021 to 2023.
- 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 293353 (Allobarbital (INN), amobarbital (INN), barbital (INN), butalbital (INN), butobarbital). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Saudi Arabia 2024, South Africa 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Bahrain, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Tanzania.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 29335310 (Phenobarbital (INN), barbital (INN), and salts thereof), 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 $1.4 million under HS code 293353 (Allobarbital (INN), amobarbital (INN), barbital (INN), butalbital (INN), butobarbital) in their latest year with data (2025 for 7 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 2). | 1.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 293353 by the 7 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2023 were up 79% in 2023 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $873 thousand to $1.6 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +79 % since 2021 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $523 thousand in 2025, or 36% of the total. | 523 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Kenya followed with $245 thousand in 2025. | 245 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 2 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $81 thousand, or 6% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 81 USD thousand | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $1.2 million, or 82% of the total. | 1.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 293353 was $61.65 per kilogram across the 13 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 61.65 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29335310 (Phenobarbital (INN), barbital (INN), and salts thereof) to the 4 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €101 thousand in 2025. | 101 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29335310 in 2025, at €75 thousand. | 75 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=293353 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=6142; DZA2024=189802; EGY2025=522556; ETH2023=34939; GHA2025=22655; ISR2025=168000; JOR2024=12482; KEN2025=244547; MAR2025=80341; NGA2025=31732; SAU2024=74603; TUN2024=26348; ZAF2025=29323; sum=1443472
- Figure 3
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 522556; share of 1443472 = 36% (shown as 523 USD thousand)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 404, period 2025, cmdCode 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 244547 (shown as 245 USD thousand)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE SAU = 80745; share 6% (shown as 81 USD thousand)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN ZAF = 1182244; share 82% (shown as 1.2 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1443472 / sum of netWgt 23414 kg = 61.65 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 293353, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE EGY GHA ISR KEN SAU ZAF: 2021 = 872571; 2023 = 1563077; change +79%
- Figure 2
- 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 29335310, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: EG=158; GH=16157; IL=75183; JO=9905; sum 101403
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29335310, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 75183
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Hospitals
- Neurology clinics
- Pharmacies
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29335310, 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
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa barbiturate drugs market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.4 million under HS code 293353 by 13 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most barbiturate drugs?
Egypt was the largest importer, followed by Kenya and Algeria.
How do GCC and African imports of barbiturate drugs compare?
The GCC countries with data took $81 thousand, or 6% of the total, and the African countries with data took $1.2 million, or 82%, each in its latest reported year.
How much barbiturate drugs does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29335310 to the countries covered of €101 thousand in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of barbiturate drugs in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $61.65 per kilogram for HS 293353, across the countries that reported weight.
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