China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Polymers made by living things or from renewable sources, including starch, cellulose, alginate and polylactic acid. Packaging, medical, food and textile firms buy them.
Typical segments
- Starch based polymers
- Cellulose derivatives
- Polylactic acid
- Alginates and proteins
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 391390 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 17 countries reporting every year rose 212% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 40% 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 391390 (Natural polymers and modified natural polymers, e.g. hardened proteins, chemical). 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 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.
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 39139000 (Natural polymers and modified natural polymers, e.g. hardened proteins, chemical), 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 $243.3 million under HS code 391390 (Natural polymers and modified natural polymers, e.g. hardened proteins, chemical) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 243.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 391390 by the 17 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 212% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $102.4 million to $319.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +212 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $119.7 million in 2023, or 49% of the total. | 119.7 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $44.4 million in 2025. | 44.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $196.9 million, or 81% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 196.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $38.7 million, or 16% of the total. | 38.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 5 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $158.9 million, or 80% of their imports under HS 391390 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 158.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 391390 was $4.85 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 4.85 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 39139000 (Natural polymers and modified natural polymers, e.g. hardened proteins, chemical) to the 19 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €12.0 million in 2025. | 12.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39139000 to these countries were down 40% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €19.9 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -40 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 39139000 in 2025, at €2.1 million. | 2.1 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=391390 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=119737454; BHR2024=3071442; CIV2025=388977; DZA2024=5441244; EGY2025=8632826; ETH2023=108747; GHA2025=1471754; ISR2025=6361000; JOR2024=1335975; KEN2025=1048606; KWT2025=12941484; MAR2025=9541013; NGA2025=2271709; OMN2025=5463514; QAT2024=11349230; SAU2025=44364382; TUN2024=1210123; TZA2025=696539; ZAF2025=7841807; sum=243277825 (shown as 243.3 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR CIV EGY ETH ISR JOR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN QAT SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 102371995; 2023 = 318955584; change +212%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 119737454; share of 243277825 = 49%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 196927505; share 81%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 38653345; share 16% (shown as 38.7 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 221632632 / sum of netWgt 45744231 kg = 4.85 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 44364382 (shown as 44.4 USD million)
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 391390, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 158927666; world 197933563; share 80%
- 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 39139000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=2121364; BH=339549; CI=24376; DZ=954714; EG=1739058; ET=307; GH=87272; IL=2133418; JO=186215; KE=65682; KW=305743; MA=625239; NG=35066; OM=11793; QA=165695; SA=1352441; TN=601794; TZ=9117; ZA=1259920; sum 12018763
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39139000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 19931293; 2025 = 12018763; change -40%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39139000, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2133418
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Packaging makers
- Medical device makers
- Food producers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 39139000, 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 biopolymers market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $243.3 million under HS code 391390 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most biopolymers?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import biopolymers from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Sweden, France and the United States.
How do GCC and African imports of biopolymers compare?
The GCC countries with data took $196.9 million, or 81% of the total, and the African countries with data took $38.7 million, or 16%, each in its latest reported year.
How much biopolymers does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 39139000 to the countries covered of €12.0 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of biopolymers in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $4.85 per kilogram for HS 391390, across the countries that reported weight.
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline