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Consumer, Food & RetailMiddle East and AfricaUpdated

Middle East and Africa Chickpea Market 2026: imports and key figures

Countries in the Middle East and Africa reported $555.2 million of imports of chickpea and related goods (HS 071320) in their latest year with data. Algeria was the largest importer.

Also coveredEuropean Union

+107% since 2020

Imports under HS 071320 by the 17 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 107%

$201.6million

Algeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $201.6 million in 2024

$116.4million

The United Arab Emirates followed with $116.4 million in 2023

EU exports to the countries covered were €1.1 million in 2025.

What this market covers

Dried legumes also called garbanzo beans, sold whole, split or canned. Grocery shops, food makers and foodservice firms buy them for hummus, curries and snacks.

Typical segments

  • Kabuli chickpeas
  • Desi chickpeas
  • Canned chickpeas
  • Roasted chickpea snacks

Top importing countries

Customs import value under HS 071320 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.

  1. Algeria (2024)201.6 USD million
  2. United Arab Emirates (2023)116.4 USD million
  3. Saudi Arabia (2025)74.4 USD million
  4. Jordan (2024)36.5 USD million
  5. Egypt (2025)30.1 USD million
  6. Israel (2025)25.0 USD million
  7. Oman (2025)13.4 USD million
  8. Morocco (2025)11.9 USD million

GCC and Africa

Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.

  1. GCC232.2 USD million
  2. Jordan and Israel61.5 USD million
  3. North Africa254.3 USD million
  4. Sub-Saharan Africa7.1 USD million
ChartImports under HS 071320 by the 17 countries reporting every year, USD million
Imports under HS 071320 by the 17 countries reporting every year, USD million01002003004002020: 180 USD million18020202021: 245 USD million24520212022: 304 USD million30420222023: 372 USD million3722023

Source: UN Comtrade

Why this market is moving now

  • Import value for the 17 countries reporting every year rose 107% from 2020 to 2023.
  • EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 49% 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 071320 (Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos", whether or not skinned or split). 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 07132000 (Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos", whether or not skinned or split), 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.

FigureValueYearSource
Customs data from 19 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $555.2 million under HS code 071320 (Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos", whether or not skinned or split) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2).555.2 USD million2025UN Comtrade
Imports under HS 071320 by the 17 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 107% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $179.8 million to $371.8 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values.+107 % since 20202023UN Comtrade
Algeria was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $201.6 million in 2024, or 36% of the total.201.6 USD million2024UN Comtrade
The United Arab Emirates followed with $116.4 million in 2023.116.4 USD million2023UN Comtrade
The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $232.2 million, or 42% of the total, in their latest reported years.232.2 USD million2025UN Comtrade
The 11 African countries with data accounted for $261.5 million, or 47% of the total.261.5 USD million2025UN Comtrade
The average import value under HS 071320 was $1.01 per kilogram across the 19 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight.1.01 USD per kg2025UN Comtrade
EU exports of CN 07132000 (Dried, shelled chickpeas "garbanzos", whether or not skinned or split) to the 11 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.1 million in 2025.1.1 EUR million2025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 07132000 to these countries were down 49% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2.1 million, calculated from Eurostat values.-49 % since 20202025Eurostat
Morocco was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 07132000 in 2025, at €693 thousand.693 EUR thousand2025Eurostat

Sources and method

The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.

  1. UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 1cmdCode=071320 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=116421785; BHR2024=8176465; CIV2025=113436; DZA2024=201617632; EGY2025=30133097; ETH2023=3886059; GHA2025=33456; ISR2025=24979000; JOR2024=36529175; KEN2025=186173; KWT2025=10233610; MAR2025=11901359; NGA2025=91987; OMN2025=13451459; QAT2024=9539277; SAU2025=74409461; TUN2024=10689435; TZA2025=11623; ZAF2025=2798263; sum=555202752
    • Figure 3reporterCode 12, period 2024, cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 201617632; share of 555202752 = 36%
    • Figure 5cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 232232058; share 42%
    • Figure 6cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 261462520; share 47% (shown as 261.5 USD million)
    • Figure 7cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 555202752 / sum of netWgt 552438454 kg = 1.01 USD per kg
  2. UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 2cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR CIV EGY ETH ISR JOR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN QAT SAU TUN TZA ZAF: 2020 = 179771748; 2023 = 371794014; change +107%
    • Figure 4reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 071320, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 116421785
  3. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
    Quoted lines
    • Figure 8DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07132000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=1042; BH=631; CI=66; EG=124861; GH=2111; IL=148959; JO=20514; MA=693444; QA=15579; SA=53958; ZA=5395; sum 1066560
    • Figure 9DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07132000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 2096414; 2025 = 1066560; change -49%
    • Figure 10DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 07132000, partner MA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 693444

Buyers and suppliers

Who buys

  • Grocery retailers
  • Hummus and snack makers
  • Foodservice operators

EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025

Eurostat Comext, CN 07132000, EUR million.

  1. Morocco0.7 EUR million
  2. Israel0.1 EUR million
  3. Egypt0.1 EUR million
  4. Saudi Arabia0.1 EUR million
  5. Jordan0.0 EUR million
  6. Qatar0.0 EUR million

What the full report covers

  1. 01Executive summary
    The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it
  2. 02Market definition and scope
    What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market
  3. 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
    Historical series and growth rates
  4. 04Outlook to 2031
    Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions
  5. 05Rules, policy and deadlines
    Regulation and programmes that change demand
  6. 06Drivers and barriers
    What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment
  7. 07Prices, costs and margins
    Unit economics where public data allows
  8. 08Competitive landscape
    8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves
  9. 09Opportunities and risks
    For new entrants, suppliers and investors
  10. 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
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Frequently asked questions

How big is the Middle East and Africa chickpea market?

There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $555.2 million under HS code 071320 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.

Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most chickpea?

Algeria was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

How do GCC and African imports of chickpea compare?

The GCC countries with data took $232.2 million, or 42% of the total, and the African countries with data took $261.5 million, or 47%, each in its latest reported year.

How much chickpea does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?

Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 07132000 to the countries covered of €1.1 million in 2025. Morocco was the largest destination.

What is the average import price of chickpea in the Middle East and Africa?

Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.01 per kilogram for HS 071320, across the countries that reported weight.

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