Mozambique was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
The thick dark syrup left after the final sugar cane extraction, sold as a food, baking and feed ingredient. Buyers are bakers, health shoppers and feed makers.
Typical segments
- Food grade blackstrap
- Organic blackstrap
- Animal feed molasses
- Fermentation grade molasses
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 170310 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 1% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 284% 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 170310 (Cane molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2021, 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 Algeria.
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 17031000 (Cane molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar), 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 $15.3 million under HS code 170310 (Cane molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 2 and 2021 for 1). | 15.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 170310 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 1% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $11.1 million to $11.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -1 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $5.7 million in 2025, or 37% of the total. | 5.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $3.6 million in 2025. | 3.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $10.4 million, or 68% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 10.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $4.4 million, or 29% of the total. | 4.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Mozambique was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 87% of its reported imports, with $3.0 million, or 22% of their imports under HS 170310 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 3.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 170310 was $0.20 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.20 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 17031000 (Cane molasses resulting from the extraction or refining of sugar) to the 8 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €62 thousand in 2025. | 62 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 17031000 to these countries were up 284% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €16 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +284 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 17031000 in 2025, at €29 thousand. | 29 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=170310 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=2889386; BHR2024=36631; CIV2025=6225; EGY2025=63648; ETH2023=33049; GHA2025=344115; ISR2025=70000; JOR2024=401784; KEN2025=221491; KWT2025=172440; MAR2025=4175; NGA2021=1239; OMN2025=1155378; QAT2024=454382; SAU2025=5671964; TUN2024=60143; TZA2025=109407; ZAF2025=3605845; sum=15301301
- Figure 2
cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR OMN SAU ZAF: 2020 = 11122543; 2025 = 10971166; change -1%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 5671964; share of 15301301 = 37% (shown as 5.7 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 3605845
- Figure 5
cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 10380181; share 68% (shown as 10.4 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 4449336; share 29%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 15107510 / sum of netWgt 74807750 kg = 0.20 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 170310, flowCode M, partnerCode 508, primaryValue summed over reporters = 2976146; world 13322573; share 22% (shown as 3.0 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 17031000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=15794; IL=29295; KW=1799; MA=1828; QA=266; SA=10563; TN=2154; ZA=117; sum 61816 (shown as 62 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17031000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 16088; 2025 = 61816; change +284%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17031000, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 29295
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food makers
- Natural food retailers
- Animal feed producers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 17031000, 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
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa blackstrap molasses market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $15.3 million under HS code 170310 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most blackstrap molasses?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import blackstrap molasses from?
Mozambique was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia.
How do GCC and African imports of blackstrap molasses compare?
The GCC countries with data took $10.4 million, or 68% of the total, and the African countries with data took $4.4 million, or 29%, each in its latest reported year.
How much blackstrap molasses does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 17031000 to the countries covered of €62 thousand in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of blackstrap molasses in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.20 per kilogram for HS 170310, across the countries that reported weight.
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