The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Malt-based fermented drink sold in bottles, cans and kegs, including lager, ale and low alcohol styles. Retailers, bars and restaurants buy it.
Typical segments
- Lager
- Ale and stout
- Craft beer
- Low and no alcohol beer
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 220300 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 13 countries reporting every year rose 42% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 10% 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 17 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 220300 (Beer made from malt). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2024, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Kuwait, 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 22030001 (Beer made from malt, in bottles holding <= 10 l), 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 17 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $553.7 million under HS code 220300 (Beer made from malt) in their latest year with data (2025 for 9 countries, 2024 for 6 and 2023 for 2). | 553.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 220300 by the 13 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were up 42% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $259.9 million to $368.6 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +42 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $182.5 million in 2023, or 33% of the total. | 182.5 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel followed with $106.4 million in 2025. | 106.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 4 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $245.5 million, or 44% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 245.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $197.3 million, or 36% of the total. | 197.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the 5 largest importing countries in the region, which took 84% of its reported imports, with $69.1 million, or 15% of their imports under HS 220300 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 69.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 220300 was $0.83 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.83 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 22030001 (Beer made from malt, in bottles holding <= 10 l) to the 19 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €100.0 million in 2025. | 100.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 22030001 to these countries were up 10% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €90.8 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +10 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 22030001 in 2025, at €27.5 million. | 27.5 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=220300 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=182487739; BHR2024=35984132; CIV2025=21674245; DZA2024=152; EGY2025=2599; ETH2023=30507; GHA2025=8948001; ISR2025=106387000; JOR2024=4528473; KEN2025=4084368; MAR2025=44431087; NGA2024=944; OMN2025=12816918; QAT2024=14197351; TUN2024=234558; TZA2025=19993260; ZAF2025=97877470; sum=553678805 (shown as 553.7 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 106387000 (shown as 106.4 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR OMN QAT = 245486140; share 44% (shown as 245.5 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 197277191; share 36% (shown as 197.3 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 447291805 / sum of netWgt 542168123 kg = 0.83 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 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR CIV EGY ISR JOR KEN MAR NGA OMN QAT TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 259857331; 2024 = 368558341; change +42%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 182487739; share of 553678805 = 33% (shown as 182.5 USD million)
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 220300, flowCode M, partnerCode 528, primaryValue summed over reporters = 69123497; world 467167429; share 15%
- 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 22030001, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=22069469; BH=4335382; CI=372084; DZ=9102; EG=57164; ET=22477; GH=3450321; IL=27480213; JO=1267876; KE=2635516; KW=4; MA=20427592; NG=208460; OM=307888; QA=2088101; SA=26659; TN=29689; TZ=4954765; ZA=10261101; sum 100003863
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 22030001, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 90760211; 2025 = 100003863; change +10%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 22030001, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 27480213 (shown as 27.5 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Retailers
- Bars and restaurants
- Distributors
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 22030001, 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 beer market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $553.7 million under HS code 220300 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most beer?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Israel and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import beer from?
The Netherlands was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Belgium, Namibia and Germany.
How do GCC and African imports of beer compare?
The GCC countries with data took $245.5 million, or 44% of the total, and the African countries with data took $197.3 million, or 36%, each in its latest reported year.
How much beer does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 22030001 to the countries covered of €100.0 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of beer in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.83 per kilogram for HS 220300, across the countries that reported weight.
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