The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
The element boron and its minerals, used in glass, ceramics, steel, agriculture and advanced materials. Buyers are glassmakers, fertilizer producers and metal and battery firms.
Typical segments
- Elemental boron
- Borates and borax
- Boron fibers
- Boron fertilizers
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 280450 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 8 countries reporting every year fell 24% from 2021 to 2023.
- 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 15 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 280450 (Boron; tellurium). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2023, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2022, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Kenya 2023, Kuwait 2022, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Jordan, Qatar.
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 28045010 (Boron), 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 15 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $4.4 million under HS code 280450 (Boron; tellurium) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 2, 2023 for 3 and 2022 for 2). | 4.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 280450 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2021 to 2023 were down 24% in 2023 compared with 2021 (2021 is the first year with data for this code), from $4.8 million to $3.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -24 % since 2021 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $4.2 million in 2025, or 97% of the total. | 4.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $100 thousand in 2025. | 100 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $12 thousand, or 0% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 12 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $129 thousand, or 3% of the total. | 129 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 99% of its reported imports, with $3.3 million, or 76% of their imports under HS 280450 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 3.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 280450 was $93.68 per kilogram across the 12 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 93.68 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28045010 (Boron) to the 2 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €20 thousand in 2025. | 20 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28045010 in 2025, at €17 thousand. | 17 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=280450 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=889; BHR2023=7102; EGY2025=1251; ETH2022=3; GHA2025=234; ISR2025=4217000; KEN2023=20; KWT2022=1309; MAR2025=4099; NGA2025=17027; OMN2025=198; SAU2025=2565; TUN2024=618; TZA2024=5496; ZAF2025=100148; sum=4357958 (shown as 4.4 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 4217000; share of 4357958 = 97%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 100148
- Figure 5
cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 12063; share 0%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 128895; share 3% (shown as 129 USD thousand)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 4348928 / sum of netWgt 46426 kg = 93.68 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 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE EGY ISR MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF: 2021 = 4815316; 2023 = 3652880; change -24%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 280450, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 3307903; world 4334175; share 76%
- 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 28045010, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: EG=2832; IL=17400; sum 20232
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28045010, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 17400
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Glass makers
- Fertilizer producers
- Steel and alloy makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28045010, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa boron market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $4.4 million under HS code 280450 by 15 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most boron?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import boron from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Canada, China and Germany.
How do GCC and African imports of boron compare?
The GCC countries with data took $12 thousand, or 0% of the total, and the African countries with data took $129 thousand, or 3%, each in its latest reported year.
How much boron does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28045010 to the countries covered of €20 thousand in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of boron in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $93.68 per kilogram for HS 280450, across the countries that reported weight.
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