The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A heat resistant ceramic compound with strong thermal conductivity and electrical insulation, sold as powder, coatings and parts. It is used in electronics, lubricants, cosmetics and metal processing.
Typical segments
- Hexagonal powder
- Cubic boron nitride
- Coatings and sprays
- Machined parts and sheets
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 285000 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 42% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 36% 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 285000 (Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically defined). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2023, 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 28500020 (Hydrides and nitrides, whether or not chemically defined), 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 $6.4 million under HS code 285000 (Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically defined) in their latest year with data (2025 for 10 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 4). | 6.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 285000 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were down 42% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $10.4 million to $6.0 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -42 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $2.9 million in 2025, or 45% of the total. | 2.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $1.9 million in 2025. | 1.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $752 thousand, or 12% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 752 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $2.7 million, or 43% of the total. | 2.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 82% of its reported imports, with $3.1 million, or 58% of their imports under HS 285000 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 3.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 285000 was $13.99 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 13.99 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28500020 (Hydrides and nitrides, whether or not chemically defined) to the 11 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.9 million in 2025. | 1.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28500020 to these countries were down 36% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €3.1 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -36 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28500020 in 2025, at €671 thousand. | 671 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=285000 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=187173; BHR2024=11674; CIV2023=329; DZA2024=860; EGY2025=96351; ETH2023=124252; GHA2025=19910; ISR2025=2880000; JOR2024=6067; KEN2025=78624; KWT2025=4050; MAR2025=18623; NGA2023=29032; OMN2025=2120; QAT2024=61791; SAU2025=485074; TUN2024=7125; TZA2025=475281; ZAF2025=1894520; sum=6382856 (shown as 6.4 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2880000; share of 6382856 = 45% (shown as 2.9 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1894520 (shown as 1.9 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 751881; share 12% (shown as 752 USD thousand)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 2744907; share 43%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 3398519 / sum of netWgt 242874 kg = 13.99 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for BHR EGY ISR KEN MAR OMN SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 10351117; 2024 = 5970913; change -42%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 285000, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 3057936; world 5259593; share 58% (shown as 3.1 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 28500020, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=670812; EG=125648; IL=651853; JO=483; KE=52235; KW=232; MA=6793; QA=50812; SA=11004; TN=17626; ZA=352126; sum 1939624
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28500020, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 3052157; 2025 = 1939624; change -36%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28500020, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 670812 (shown as 671 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Electronics makers
- Metalworking firms
- Cosmetic ingredient buyers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28500020, 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 boron nitride market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $6.4 million under HS code 285000 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most boron nitride?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import boron nitride from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Germany, China and Sweden.
How do GCC and African imports of boron nitride compare?
The GCC countries with data took $752 thousand, or 12% of the total, and the African countries with data took $2.7 million, or 43%, each in its latest reported year.
How much boron nitride does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28500020 to the countries covered of €1.9 million in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of boron nitride in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $13.99 per kilogram for HS 285000, across the countries that reported weight.
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