China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Carotenoids are natural or synthetic pigments such as beta carotene, lutein and astaxanthin. They are used as food colours, feed additives and supplement ingredients.
Typical segments
- Beta carotene
- Lutein and zeaxanthin
- Astaxanthin
- Lycopene
- Natural and synthetic carotenoids
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 320418 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 53% from 2022 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 9% from 2022 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 17 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 320418 (Synthetic carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon of a kind used to). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, 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 Algeria, 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 32041800 (Synthetic carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon of a kind used to), 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 17 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $12.3 million under HS code 320418 (Synthetic carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon of a kind used to) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 3 and 2023 for 2). | 12.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 320418 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2022 to 2025 were up 53% in 2025 compared with 2022 (2022 is the first year with data for this code), from $7.3 million to $11.2 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +53 % since 2022 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $5.1 million in 2025, or 42% of the total. | 5.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa followed with $3.8 million in 2025. | 3.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $912 thousand, or 7% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 912 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $6.1 million, or 50% of the total. | 6.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 86% of its reported imports, with $3.8 million, or 36% of their imports under HS 320418 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 3.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 320418 was $31.83 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 31.83 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 32041800 (Synthetic carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon of a kind used to) to the 18 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €8.9 million in 2025. | 8.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 32041800 to these countries were up 9% in 2025 compared with 2022 (the first year with data for this code), when they were €8.2 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +9 % since 2022 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 32041800 in 2025, at €3.1 million. | 3.1 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=320418 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=77628; BHR2024=14520; CIV2025=10879; EGY2025=803561; ETH2023=10615; GHA2025=19428; ISR2025=5099000; JOR2024=137532; KEN2025=351595; KWT2025=20047; MAR2025=830263; NGA2025=287406; OMN2025=76720; SAU2025=723356; TUN2024=520; TZA2025=2211; ZAF2025=3812486; sum=12277769 (shown as 12.3 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2022 = 7333931; 2025 = 11203085; change +53%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 5099000; share of 12277769 = 42% (shown as 5.1 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 3812486
- Figure 5
cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 912272; share 7%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 6128964; share 50%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 11447506 / sum of netWgt 359671 kg = 31.83 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 320418, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 3805132; world 10545310; share 36%
- 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 32041800, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=589058; CI=7689; DZ=420346; EG=688088; ET=14250; GH=13675; IL=996736; JO=33666; KE=237855; KW=31400; MA=434312; NG=139258; OM=23295; QA=18397; SA=918911; TN=1279454; TZ=31646; ZA=3063370; sum 8941406
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32041800, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2022 = 8165913; 2025 = 8941406; change +9%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32041800, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3063370 (shown as 3.1 EUR million)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Food and beverage makers
- Animal feed producers
- Supplement brands
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 32041800, 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 carotenoid market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $12.3 million under HS code 320418 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most carotenoid?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by South Africa and Morocco.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import carotenoid from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included France, Germany and Switzerland.
How do GCC and African imports of carotenoid compare?
The GCC countries with data took $912 thousand, or 7% of the total, and the African countries with data took $6.1 million, or 50%, each in its latest reported year.
How much carotenoid does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 32041800 to the countries covered of €8.9 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of carotenoid in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $31.83 per kilogram for HS 320418, across the countries that reported weight.
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