China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Seed grain eaten as groats, flour and noodles and valued as a gluten free option. Households, food makers and health food retailers buy it.
Typical segments
- Whole groats
- Buckwheat flour
- Soba noodles
- Roasted kasha
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 100810 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 73% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 55% 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 100810 (Buckwheat). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2024, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2024, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Tunisia.
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 10081000 (Buckwheat), 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 $1.8 million under HS code 100810 (Buckwheat) in their latest year with data (2025 for 9 countries, 2024 for 7 and 2023 for 2). | 1.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 100810 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 73% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $803 thousand to $1.4 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +73 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $753 thousand in 2025, or 43% of the total. | 753 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Nigeria followed with $489 thousand in 2025. | 489 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $241 thousand, or 14% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 241 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $748 thousand, or 42% of the total. | 748 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $581 thousand, or 41% of their imports under HS 100810 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 581 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 100810 was $0.69 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.69 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 10081000 (Buckwheat) to the 8 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €48 thousand in 2025. | 48 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 10081000 to these countries were down 55% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €106 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | -55 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 10081000 in 2025, at €22 thousand. | 22 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=100810 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=190821; BHR2024=22454; CIV2025=589; DZA2024=13834; EGY2024=463; ETH2023=819; GHA2025=106553; ISR2025=753000; JOR2024=25079; KEN2025=4256; KWT2025=15678; MAR2025=106538; NGA2025=488578; OMN2025=4778; QAT2024=5689; SAU2024=1908; TZA2024=29; ZAF2025=26761; sum=1767827 (shown as 1.8 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 753000; share of 1767827 = 43%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 566, period 2025, cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 488578 (shown as 489 USD thousand)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 241328; share 14%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TZA ZAF = 748421; share 42%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1767827 / sum of netWgt 2556153 kg = 0.69 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 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR EGY ISR JOR KEN MAR OMN ZAF: 2020 = 803292; 2023 = 1389131; change +73%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 100810, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 581018; world 1432398; share 41%
- 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 10081000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=12585; BH=218; EG=22469; IL=4843; MA=1802; OM=787; SA=1613; ZA=3398; sum 47715
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 10081000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 106184; 2025 = 47715; change -55%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 10081000, partner EG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 22469
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Households
- Food manufacturers
- Health food retailers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 10081000, 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 buckwheat market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.8 million under HS code 100810 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most buckwheat?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import buckwheat from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Bulgaria, Russia and the United Kingdom.
How do GCC and African imports of buckwheat compare?
The GCC countries with data took $241 thousand, or 14% of the total, and the African countries with data took $748 thousand, or 42%, each in its latest reported year.
How much buckwheat does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 10081000 to the countries covered of €48 thousand in 2025. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of buckwheat in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.69 per kilogram for HS 100810, across the countries that reported weight.
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