Thailand was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Natural wax produced by honey bees, used in cosmetics, candles, food coating and pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers buy it crude or refined.
Typical segments
- Yellow beeswax
- White beeswax
- Beeswax pellets
- Cosmetic grade beeswax
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 152190 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 fell 63% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 15% 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 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 152190 (Beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured). 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, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2020, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
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 15219099 (Beeswax and other insect waxes, whether or not refined or coloured), 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 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $4.2 million under HS code 152190 (Beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 5, 2023 for 2 and 2020 for 1). | 4.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 152190 by the 13 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were down 63% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $7.2 million to $2.6 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -63 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Nigeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $1.3 million in 2025, or 31% of the total. | 1.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $650 thousand in 2025. | 650 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $945 thousand, or 23% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 945 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $3.0 million, or 72% of the total. | 3.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Thailand was the largest supplier to the 7 largest importing countries in the region, which took 83% of its reported imports, with $943 thousand, or 27% of their imports under HS 152190 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 943 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 152190 was $2.52 per kilogram across the 19 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 2.52 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 15219099 (Beeswax and other insect waxes, whether or not refined or coloured) to the 14 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.1 million in 2025. | 1.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 15219099 to these countries were up 15% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €993 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +15 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 15219099 in 2025, at €283 thousand. | 283 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=152190 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=100141; BHR2024=13; CIV2025=2798; DZA2024=253409; EGY2025=159974; ETH2023=601799; GHA2025=17189; ISR2025=113000; JOR2024=100093; KEN2025=33299; KWT2025=3727; MAR2025=152914; NGA2025=1285416; OMN2025=177355; QAT2020=13893; SAU2025=650226; TUN2024=200114; TZA2024=7177; ZAF2025=306482; sum=4179016
- Figure 3
reporterCode 566, period 2025, cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1285416; share of 4179016 = 31% (shown as 1.3 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 650226
- Figure 5
cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 945354; share 23%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 3020569; share 72%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 4179016 / sum of netWgt 1657509 kg = 2.52 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 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR EGY ISR JOR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 7150103; 2024 = 2615515; change -63%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 152190, flowCode M, partnerCode 764, primaryValue summed over reporters = 942595; world 3474799; share 27% (shown as 943 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 15219099, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=237201; CI=600; DZ=44661; EG=283305; IL=231061; JO=53390; KE=108; MA=83076; NG=1988; OM=2522; QA=6; SA=93520; TN=62177; ZA=44842; sum 1138457
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15219099, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 992681; 2025 = 1138457; change +15%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 15219099, partner EG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 283305
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Cosmetic makers
- Candle makers
- Food and pharma makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 15219099, 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 beeswax market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $4.2 million under HS code 152190 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most beeswax?
Nigeria was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import beeswax from?
Thailand was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
How do GCC and African imports of beeswax compare?
The GCC countries with data took $945 thousand, or 23% of the total, and the African countries with data took $3.0 million, or 72%, each in its latest reported year.
How much beeswax does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 15219099 to the countries covered of €1.1 million in 2025. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of beeswax in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $2.52 per kilogram for HS 152190, across the countries that reported weight.
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