EU exports to the countries covered were €31 thousand in 2025.
What this market covers
A basic aromatic hydrocarbon made from petroleum and used to produce styrene, cumene and cyclohexane. Chemical producers are the main buyers.
Typical segments
- Petroleum derived benzene
- Coal derived benzene
- Styrene feedstock
- Cumene feedstock
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 290220 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 rose 54% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 99% 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 290220 (Benzene). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2020, 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 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 29022000 (Benzene), 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 $740.4 million under HS code 290220 (Benzene) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 2 and 2020 for 1). | 740.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 290220 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 54% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $465.5 million to $717.9 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +54 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $617.6 million in 2025, or 83% of the total. | 617.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Kuwait followed with $102.6 million in 2025. | 102.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $739.5 million, or 100% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 739.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $555 thousand, or 0% of the total. | 555 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29022000 (Benzene) to the 8 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €31 thousand in 2025. | 31 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29022000 to these countries were down 99% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €4.1 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -99 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29022000 in 2025, at €20 thousand. | 20 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=290220 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=10969807; BHR2020=1012; CIV2025=188; DZA2024=978; EGY2025=1588; ETH2023=58075; GHA2025=105931; ISR2025=8000; JOR2024=392523; KEN2025=251; KWT2025=102590272; MAR2025=6819; NGA2025=49403; OMN2025=304; QAT2024=8298047; SAU2025=617632766; TUN2024=463; TZA2025=17012; ZAF2025=314449; sum=740447888
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 290220, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 617632766; share of 740447888 = 83%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 414, period 2025, cmdCode 290220, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 102590272 (shown as 102.6 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 290220, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 739492209; share 100% (shown as 739.5 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 290220, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 555157; share 0%
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 290220, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE ETH ISR KWT MAR NGA OMN QAT SAU TUN ZAF: 2020 = 465495365; 2023 = 717872383; change +54%
- Figure 2
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29022000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=826; EG=25; IL=5018; JO=111; KE=626; MA=20336; SA=544; ZA=3535; sum 31021
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29022000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 4077912; 2025 = 31021; change -99%
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29022000, partner MA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20336
- Figure 7
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Styrene producers
- Phenol producers
- Nylon intermediate makers
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29022000, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa benzene market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $740.4 million under HS code 290220 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most benzene?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
How do GCC and African imports of benzene compare?
The GCC countries with data took $739.5 million, or 100% of the total, and the African countries with data took $555 thousand, or 0%, each in its latest reported year.
How much benzene does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29022000 to the countries covered of €31 thousand in 2025. Morocco was the largest destination.
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