Libya was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Ethylene produced from plant derived ethanol rather than fossil fuels. Buyers are makers of polyethylene and other plastics.
Typical segments
- Sugarcane ethanol route
- Corn ethanol route
- Waste feedstock route
- Polymer grade ethylene
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 290121 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 10 countries reporting every year fell 49% from 2021 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 59% 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 290121 (Ethylene). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2022, 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.
No import data for this code was available from Bahrain.
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 29012100 (Ethylene), 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 $111.2 million under HS code 290121 (Ethylene) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 1 and 2022 for 1). | 111.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 290121 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2024 were down 49% in 2024 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $119.4 million to $61.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -49 % since 2021 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Algeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $43.9 million in 2024, or 39% of the total. | 43.9 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Qatar followed with $43.6 million in 2024. | 43.6 USD million | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $43.7 million, or 39% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 43.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $66.7 million, or 60% of the total. | 66.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Libya was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 98% of its reported imports, with $43.9 million, or 40% of their imports under HS 290121 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 43.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 290121 was $0.99 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.99 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 29012100 (Ethylene) to the 9 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €22.6 million in 2025. | 22.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 29012100 to these countries were up 59% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €14.2 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +59 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 29012100 in 2025, at €13.8 million. | 13.8 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=290121 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=251; CIV2025=6988; DZA2024=43875754; EGY2025=27206; ETH2022=1068; GHA2025=20474; ISR2025=759000; JOR2024=12032; KEN2025=101079; KWT2025=183; MAR2025=21378638; NGA2025=1053310; OMN2025=29368; QAT2024=43586926; SAU2025=131081; TUN2024=6627; TZA2025=81178; ZAF2025=152707; sum=111223870
- Figure 2
cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY GHA ISR KEN MAR NGA QAT SAU TUN ZAF: 2021 = 119356486; 2024 = 61009616; change -49%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 12, period 2024, cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 43875754; share of 111223870 = 39% (shown as 43.9 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 634, period 2024, cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 43586926 (shown as 43.6 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN QAT SAU = 43747809; share 39%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 66705029; share 60%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 111223870 / sum of netWgt 111843056 kg = 0.99 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 290121, flowCode M, partnerCode 434, primaryValue summed over reporters = 43875754; world 108841318; share 40% (shown as 43.9 USD million)
- 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 29012100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: CI=13061; DZ=8010163; EG=29981; ET=7750; GH=8494; IL=488490; MA=13790126; NG=199929; ZA=33113; sum 22581107 (shown as 22.6 EUR million)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29012100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 14202605; 2025 = 22581107; change +59%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 29012100, partner MA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 13790126 (shown as 13.8 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Plastics producers
- Packaging firms
- Chemical companies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 29012100, 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 bio based ethylene market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $111.2 million under HS code 290121 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most bio based ethylene?
Algeria was the largest importer, followed by Qatar and Morocco.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import bio based ethylene from?
Libya was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Singapore, the United States and Malaysia.
How do GCC and African imports of bio based ethylene compare?
The GCC countries with data took $43.7 million, or 39% of the total, and the African countries with data took $66.7 million, or 60%, each in its latest reported year.
How much bio based ethylene does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 29012100 to the countries covered of €22.6 million in 2025. Morocco was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of bio based ethylene in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.99 per kilogram for HS 290121, across the countries that reported weight.
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