The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A plastic and fibre material made from wood pulp or cotton and acetic acid. Used in cigarette filters, eyewear frames, films and textiles.
Typical segments
- Flake
- Tow
- Plastics
- Film
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 391211 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 rose 52% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 33198% 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 391211 (Non-plasticised cellulose acetates, in primary forms). Each country's latest reported year is used: Algeria 2024, Bahrain 2023, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Kuwait.
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 39121100 (Non-plasticised cellulose acetates, in primary forms), 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 $6.9 million under HS code 391211 (Non-plasticised cellulose acetates, in primary forms) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 3). | 6.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 391211 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 52% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $1.1 million to $1.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +52 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $3.8 million in 2025, or 55% of the total. | 3.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt followed with $1.1 million in 2025. | 1.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $4.7 million, or 68% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 4.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $2.1 million, or 31% of the total. | 2.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 83% of its reported imports, with $1.8 million, or 31% of their imports under HS 391211 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 1.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 391211 was $2.71 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 2.71 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 39121100 (Non-plasticised cellulose acetates, in primary forms) to the 10 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €789 thousand in 2025. | 789 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 39121100 to these countries were up 33198% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +33198 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 39121100 in 2025, at €675 thousand. | 675 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=391211 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=239260; BHR2023=20547; CIV2025=16043; DZA2024=26708; EGY2025=1078674; ETH2023=3955; GHA2025=5766; ISR2025=54000; JOR2024=55911; KEN2025=5358; MAR2025=52194; NGA2025=882945; OMN2025=20510; QAT2024=593359; SAU2025=3812516; TUN2024=255; TZA2025=54574; ZAF2025=19149; sum=6941724
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 3812516; share of 6941724 = 55%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1078674
- Figure 5
cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR OMN QAT SAU = 4686193; share 68% (shown as 4.7 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 2145621; share 31%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 6941724 / sum of netWgt 2557624 kg = 2.71 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 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR EGY ISR JOR KEN MAR OMN SAU ZAF: 2020 = 1117666; 2023 = 1701041; change +52%
- Figure 2
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 391211, flowCode M, partnerCode 784, primaryValue summed over reporters = 1763946; world 5774135; share 31% (shown as 1.8 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 39121100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=674694; DZ=13100; EG=139; IL=83183; JO=16; MA=14644; NG=62; SA=2181; TN=756; ZA=384; sum 789159
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39121100, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 2370; 2025 = 789159; change +33198%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 39121100, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 674694 (shown as 675 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Filter makers
- Eyewear makers
- Textile mills
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 39121100, 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 cellulose acetate market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $6.9 million under HS code 391211 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most cellulose acetate?
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer, followed by Egypt and Nigeria.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import cellulose acetate from?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included China, Germany and Thailand.
How do GCC and African imports of cellulose acetate compare?
The GCC countries with data took $4.7 million, or 68% of the total, and the African countries with data took $2.1 million, or 31%, each in its latest reported year.
How much cellulose acetate does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 39121100 to the countries covered of €789 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of cellulose acetate in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $2.71 per kilogram for HS 391211, across the countries that reported weight.
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