Jordan was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Reactive chemical element recovered from brines and used in flame retardants, drilling fluids and water treatment. Chemical makers buy it.
Typical segments
- Flame retardants
- Clear completion fluids
- Water treatment
- Agrochemicals
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 280130 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 rose 108% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 442% 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 280130 (Fluorine; bromine). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2024, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2022, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2022, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2021, Oman 2025, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from 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 28013090 (Bromine), 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 $8.7 million under HS code 280130 (Fluorine; bromine) in their latest year with data (2025 for 10 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 1, 2022 for 2 and 2021 for 1). | 8.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 280130 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 108% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $6.7 million to $13.9 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +108 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $8.4 million in 2025, or 97% of the total. | 8.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $142 thousand in 2023. | 142 USD thousand | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $8.6 million, or 99% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 8.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $62 thousand, or 1% of the total. | 62 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Jordan was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 99% of its reported imports, with $8.3 million, or 96% of their imports under HS 280130 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 8.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 280130 was $2.50 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 2.50 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28013090 (Bromine) to the 5 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €55 thousand in 2025. | 55 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28013090 to these countries were up 442% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €10 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +442 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Jordan was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28013090 in 2025, at €45 thousand. | 45 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=280130 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=142275; BHR2024=178; CIV2024=156; DZA2024=533; EGY2025=21464; ETH2022=90; GHA2025=96; ISR2025=22000; JOR2022=1498; KEN2025=288; KWT2025=261; MAR2025=280; NGA2021=112; OMN2025=3170; SAU2025=8435814; TUN2024=836; TZA2025=1139; ZAF2025=37411; sum=8667602 (shown as 8.7 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8435814; share of 8667602 = 97%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 8581698; share 99% (shown as 8.6 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 62406; share 1%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 8667602 / sum of netWgt 3473713 kg = 2.50 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 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR ISR KEN MAR OMN SAU TUN ZAF: 2020 = 6699291; 2023 = 13905914; change +108%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 142275
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 280130, flowCode M, partnerCode 400, primaryValue summed over reporters = 8295725; world 8615500; share 96% (shown as 8.3 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 28013090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=3090; EG=82; IL=6726; JO=44501; MA=865; sum 55264
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28013090, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 10197; 2025 = 55264; change +442%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28013090, partner JO, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 44501
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Flame retardant makers
- Oilfield service firms
- Water treatment firms
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28013090, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa bromine market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $8.7 million under HS code 280130 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most bromine?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import bromine from?
Jordan was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Germany, China and Saudi Arabia.
How do GCC and African imports of bromine compare?
The GCC countries with data took $8.6 million, or 99% of the total, and the African countries with data took $62 thousand, or 1%, each in its latest reported year.
How much bromine does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28013090 to the countries covered of €55 thousand in 2025. Jordan was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of bromine in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $2.50 per kilogram for HS 280130, across the countries that reported weight.
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