EU exports to the countries covered were €8.1 million in 2025.
What this market covers
Boards made from cement and reinforcing fibres, used as a base for tile and as siding, flooring and wall panels. Resistant to water, fire and rot.
Typical segments
- Tile backer board
- Fibre cement siding
- Flooring panels
- Fire rated boards
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 681182 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 11 countries reporting every year rose 98% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 110% 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 19 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 681182 (Sheets, panels, paving, tiles and similar articles, of cellulose fibre-cement or the). 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 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 68118200 (Sheets, panels, paving, tiles and similar articles, of cellulose fibre-cement or the), 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 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $47.1 million under HS code 681182 (Sheets, panels, paving, tiles and similar articles, of cellulose fibre-cement or the) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 47.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 681182 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 98% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $12.9 million to $25.6 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +98 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $13.9 million in 2023, or 29% of the total. | 13.9 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel followed with $5.2 million in 2025. | 5.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $27.4 million, or 58% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 27.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $14.3 million, or 30% of the total. | 14.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 681182 was $0.13 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 0.13 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 68118200 (Sheets, panels, paving, tiles and similar articles, of cellulose fibre-cement or the) to the 10 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €8.1 million in 2025. | 8.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 68118200 to these countries were up 110% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €3.8 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +110 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 68118200 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=681182 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=13863435; BHR2024=955589; CIV2025=269913; DZA2024=1655262; EGY2025=472123; ETH2023=596876; GHA2025=525664; ISR2025=5225000; JOR2024=176003; KEN2025=807945; KWT2025=2753314; MAR2025=1951898; NGA2025=1269497; OMN2025=3799443; QAT2024=3574598; SAU2025=2438284; TUN2024=116237; TZA2025=1649245; ZAF2025=4965599; sum=47065925 (shown as 47.1 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 12928728; 2025 = 25602262; change +98%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 5225000
- Figure 5
cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 27384662; share 58% (shown as 27.4 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 14280260; share 30% (shown as 14.3 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 43358144 / sum of netWgt 324025049 kg = 0.13 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 681182, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 13863435; share of 47065925 = 29% (shown as 13.9 USD million)
- Figure 3
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 68118200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=1964510; DZ=1157169; EG=614; IL=3129442; KW=25400; MA=1408884; NG=7330; QA=63078; SA=173198; ZA=138469; sum 8068094
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 68118200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 3836987; 2025 = 8068094; change +110%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 68118200, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3129442
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Building contractors
- Tile installers
- Building material dealers
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 68118200, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa cement board market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $47.1 million under HS code 681182 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most cement board?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Israel and South Africa.
How do GCC and African imports of cement board compare?
The GCC countries with data took $27.4 million, or 58% of the total, and the African countries with data took $14.3 million, or 30%, each in its latest reported year.
How much cement board does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 68118200 to the countries covered of €8.1 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of cement board in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $0.13 per kilogram for HS 681182, across the countries that reported weight.
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