The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Sucrose extracted from sugar beet and sold raw, white or as liquid sugar. Food and drink makers and retailers buy it.
Typical segments
- Raw sugar
- White sugar
- Liquid sugar
- Specialty sugars
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 170112 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 9 countries reporting every year fell 44% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 2376% 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 170112 (Raw beet sugar). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2023, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2023, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2020, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Cote d'Ivoire.
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 17011210 (Raw beet sugar, for refining), 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 $30.3 million under HS code 170112 (Raw beet sugar) in their latest year with data (2025 for 9 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 4 and 2020 for 1). | 30.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 170112 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were down 44% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $45.7 million to $25.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -44 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $13.2 million in 2025, or 44% of the total. | 13.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Ethiopia followed with $11.3 million in 2023. | 11.3 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $5.0 million, or 17% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 5.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $12.0 million, or 40% of the total. | 12.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 95% of its reported imports, with $9.5 million, or 33% of their imports under HS 170112 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 9.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 170112 was $0.59 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.59 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 17011210 (Raw beet sugar, for refining) to the 3 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1 thousand in 2025. | 1 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 17011210 to these countries were up 2376% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €0 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +2376 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 17011210 in 2025, at €1 thousand. | 1 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=170112 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=644097; BHR2024=51111; DZA2024=16138; EGY2025=1915; ETH2023=11321372; GHA2025=22104; ISR2025=13237000; JOR2024=3865; KEN2023=7093; KWT2025=133899; MAR2025=2670; NGA2023=117165; OMN2025=5566; QAT2024=4099365; SAU2025=113128; TUN2020=1871; TZA2025=145; ZAF2025=529890; sum=30308393
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 13237000; share of 30308393 = 44%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 5047165; share 17%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 12020362; share 40%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 30308393 / sum of netWgt 51112267 kg = 0.59 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 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR ISR JOR KWT MAR OMN QAT SAU ZAF: 2020 = 45687183; 2024 = 25659160; change -44%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 231, period 2023, cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 11321372
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 170112, flowCode M, partnerCode 784, primaryValue summed over reporters = 9508000; world 28657737; share 33%
- 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 17011210, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=947; DZ=60; JO=132; sum 1139
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17011210, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 46; 2025 = 1139; change +2376%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17011210, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 947
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food manufacturers
- Beverage makers
- Retailers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
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 beet sugar market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $30.3 million under HS code 170112 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most beet sugar?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Ethiopia and Qatar.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import beet sugar from?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Turkey.
How do GCC and African imports of beet sugar compare?
The GCC countries with data took $5.0 million, or 17% of the total, and the African countries with data took $12.0 million, or 40%, each in its latest reported year.
How much beet sugar does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 17011210 to the countries covered of €1 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of beet sugar in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.59 per kilogram for HS 170112, across the countries that reported weight.
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