China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A soft alkaline earth metal used as a reducing agent and alloying element in steel, aluminum and battery work. Metal producers and specialty chemical firms buy it.
Typical segments
- Calcium metal
- Calcium cored wire
- Calcium alloys
- Granules and turnings
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 280512 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 177% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 32% 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 280512 (Calcium). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2021, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, 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 28051200 (Calcium), 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 $10.6 million under HS code 280512 (Calcium) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 2 and 2021 for 1). | 10.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 280512 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 177% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $3.0 million to $8.2 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +177 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $4.5 million in 2025, or 42% of the total. | 4.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Nigeria followed with $2.2 million in 2025. | 2.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $2.6 million, or 24% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 2.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $8.0 million, or 76% of the total. | 8.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 85% of its reported imports, with $5.3 million, or 58% of their imports under HS 280512 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 5.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 280512 was $2.40 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 2.40 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28051200 (Calcium) to the 8 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €3.0 million in 2025. | 3.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28051200 to these countries were up 32% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2.3 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +32 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28051200 in 2025, at €3.0 million. | 3.0 EUR million | 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=280512 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1534603; BHR2024=43840; CIV2025=4890; DZA2024=497296; EGY2025=4452649; ETH2023=35601; GHA2025=38224; ISR2025=2000; JOR2021=3664; KEN2025=67730; KWT2025=31825; MAR2025=376112; NGA2025=2167347; OMN2025=911319; SAU2025=42962; TUN2024=185072; TZA2025=11295; ZAF2025=202967; sum=10609396
- Figure 2
cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY ISR KEN MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 2975694; 2025 = 8234382; change +177%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 4452649; share of 10609396 = 42%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 566, period 2025, cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2167347 (shown as 2.2 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 2564548; share 24% (shown as 2.6 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 8039184; share 76%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 10609396 / sum of netWgt 4413684 kg = 2.40 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 280512, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 5286893; world 9065918; share 58% (shown as 5.3 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 28051200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: EG=3033160; GH=924; IL=2489; MA=46; QA=146; SA=101; TN=4980; ZA=316; sum 3042162
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28051200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 2310133; 2025 = 3042162; change +32%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28051200, partner EG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3033160
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Steel makers
- Aluminum producers
- Specialty alloy makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28051200, 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
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa calcium market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $10.6 million under HS code 280512 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most calcium?
Egypt was the largest importer, followed by Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import calcium from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
How do GCC and African imports of calcium compare?
The GCC countries with data took $2.6 million, or 24% of the total, and the African countries with data took $8.0 million, or 76%, each in its latest reported year.
How much calcium does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28051200 to the countries covered of €3.0 million in 2025. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of calcium in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $2.40 per kilogram for HS 280512, across the countries that reported weight.
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