Spain was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Meat from cattle sold as carcasses, cuts and ground products, fresh or frozen. Retailers, restaurants and food processors buy it.
Typical segments
- Fresh cuts
- Frozen boneless beef
- Ground beef
- Carcasses and primals
- Processed beef products
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 020110 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 11 countries reporting every year fell 0% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 1376% 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 020110 (Carcases or half-carcases of bovine animals, fresh or chilled). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2024, Egypt 2023, Ethiopia 2022, Ghana 2023, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2023, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Israel.
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 02011000 (Carcases or half-carcases of bovine animals, fresh or chilled), 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 $442.6 million under HS code 020110 (Carcases or half-carcases of bovine animals, fresh or chilled) in their latest year with data (2025 for 6 countries, 2024 for 7, 2023 for 4 and 2022 for 1). | 442.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 020110 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were down 0% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $223.4 million to $223.2 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -0 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Algeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $188.9 million in 2024, or 43% of the total. | 188.9 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Kuwait followed with $73.6 million in 2025. | 73.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $232.9 million, or 53% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 232.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $203.2 million, or 46% of the total. | 203.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Spain was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 83% of its reported imports, with $170.7 million, or 46% of their imports under HS 020110 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 170.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 020110 was $5.50 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 5.50 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 02011000 (Carcases or half-carcases of bovine animals, fresh or chilled) to the 7 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €114.9 million in 2025. | 114.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 02011000 to these countries were up 1376% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €7.8 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +1376 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Algeria was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 02011000 in 2025, at €103.5 million. | 103.5 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=020110 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=66252897; BHR2024=20159084; CIV2024=105; DZA2024=188893660; EGY2023=8489; ETH2022=17219; GHA2023=14690; JOR2024=6549884; KEN2025=8321; KWT2025=73644572; MAR2025=10203844; NGA2023=82; OMN2025=8290187; QAT2024=24324102; SAU2025=40237398; TUN2024=4036269; TZA2024=36; ZAF2025=7; sum=442640847
- Figure 3
reporterCode 12, period 2024, cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 188893660; share of 442640847 = 43% (shown as 188.9 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 232908241; share 53%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 203182722; share 46% (shown as 203.2 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 442640847 / sum of netWgt 80440903 kg = 5.50 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 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR CIV EGY JOR KWT OMN QAT SAU TUN ZAF: 2020 = 223433409; 2023 = 223241304; change -0%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 414, period 2025, cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 73644572
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 020110, flowCode M, partnerCode 724, primaryValue summed over reporters = 170715424; world 369028527; share 46%
- 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 02011000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=2188; DZ=103497618; IL=204516; MA=8562313; QA=31112; SA=12836; TN=2636425; sum 114947008
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 02011000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 7788487; 2025 = 114947008; change +1376%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 02011000, partner DZ, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 103497618 (shown as 103.5 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants and caterers
- Food processors
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 02011000, 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
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa beef market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $442.6 million under HS code 020110 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most beef?
Algeria was the largest importer, followed by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import beef from?
Spain was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Pakistan, Brazil and France.
How do GCC and African imports of beef compare?
The GCC countries with data took $232.9 million, or 53% of the total, and the African countries with data took $203.2 million, or 46%, each in its latest reported year.
How much beef does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 02011000 to the countries covered of €114.9 million in 2025. Algeria was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of beef in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $5.50 per kilogram for HS 020110, across the countries that reported weight.
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