Japan was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Base metal mining extracts ores of copper, lead, zinc and nickel from the ground. Smelters and refiners buy the concentrates to supply construction, electrical and manufacturing industries.
Typical segments
- Copper mining
- Zinc and lead mining
- Nickel mining
- Concentrate processing
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 260300 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 8 countries reporting every year rose 27% from 2022 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 515% 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 16 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 260300 (Copper ores and concentrates). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Kenya 2022, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Ethiopia, Jordan, Egypt.
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 26030000 (Copper ores and concentrates), 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 16 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $3.6 million under HS code 260300 (Copper ores and concentrates) in their latest year with data (2025 for 10 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 1 and 2022 for 1). | 3.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 260300 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2022 to 2024 were up 27% in 2024 compared with 2022 (2022 is the first year with data for this code), from $2.5 million to $3.1 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +27 % since 2022 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $1.7 million in 2023, or 48% of the total. | 1.7 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $710 thousand in 2025. | 710 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $2.8 million, or 78% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 2.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $767 thousand, or 21% of the total. | 767 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Japan was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 90% of its reported imports, with $1.8 million, or 54% of their imports under HS 260300 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 1.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 260300 was $0.10 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.10 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 26030000 (Copper ores and concentrates) to the 4 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €12 thousand in 2025. | 12 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 26030000 to these countries were up 515% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +515 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 26030000 in 2025, at €12 thousand. | 12 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=260300 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1721781; BHR2024=596; CIV2025=135; DZA2024=12183; GHA2025=1797; ISR2025=4000; KEN2022=5; KWT2025=10283; MAR2025=796; NGA2025=198; OMN2025=374814; QAT2024=268844; SAU2025=426904; TUN2024=789; TZA2025=40621; ZAF2025=710140; sum=3573887 (shown as 3.6 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1721781; share of 3573887 = 48%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 2803223; share 78%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 766664; share 21% (shown as 767 USD thousand)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 3573887 / sum of netWgt 37389932 kg = 0.10 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 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR GHA KWT OMN SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2022 = 2452561; 2024 = 3123898; change +27%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 710140
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 260300, flowCode M, partnerCode 392, primaryValue summed over reporters = 1760597; world 3233640; share 54% (shown as 1.8 USD million)
- 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 26030000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: IL=186; MA=21; SA=11700; ZA=25; sum 11932 (shown as 12 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 26030000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 1939; 2025 = 11932; change +515%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 26030000, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 11700 (shown as 12 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Smelters and refiners
- Metal traders
- Industrial manufacturers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 26030000, 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 base metal mining market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $3.6 million under HS code 260300 by 16 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most base metal mining?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import base metal mining from?
Japan was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Zambia, the United Arab Emirates and China.
How do GCC and African imports of base metal mining compare?
The GCC countries with data took $2.8 million, or 78% of the total, and the African countries with data took $767 thousand, or 21%, each in its latest reported year.
How much base metal mining does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 26030000 to the countries covered of €12 thousand in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of base metal mining in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.10 per kilogram for HS 260300, across the countries that reported weight.
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