The United States was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Chromium compounds such as sulphates, chromates and dichromates. They serve in leather tanning, pigments, plating and wood treatment.
Typical segments
- Chromium sulphate
- Chromates and dichromates
- Chromium chloride
- Chromium acetate
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 284150 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 36% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 21% 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 284150 (Chromates and dichromates; peroxochromates). 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, 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 28415000 (Chromates and dichromates; peroxochromates), 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 $1.6 million under HS code 284150 (Chromates and dichromates; peroxochromates) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 2). | 1.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 284150 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 36% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $967 thousand to $1.3 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +36 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| South Africa was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $1.1 million in 2025, or 68% of the total. | 1.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $159 thousand in 2025. | 159 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $218 thousand, or 14% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 218 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $1.3 million, or 85% of the total. | 1.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United States was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 86% of its reported imports, with $753 thousand, or 56% of their imports under HS 284150 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 753 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 284150 was $8.53 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 8.53 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28415000 (Chromates and dichromates; peroxochromates) to the 16 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €60 thousand in 2025. | 60 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28415000 to these countries were up 21% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €49 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +21 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Saudi Arabia was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28415000 in 2025, at €14 thousand. | 14 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=284150 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=46898; BHR2024=3221; CIV2025=4605; DZA2024=7964; EGY2025=125254; ETH2023=27333; GHA2025=6810; ISR2025=15000; JOR2024=1200; KEN2025=33209; KWT2025=956; MAR2025=28267; NGA2025=6847; OMN2025=7958; SAU2025=159042; TUN2024=12387; TZA2025=18236; ZAF2025=1052455; sum=1557641 (shown as 1.6 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV ISR KEN KWT MAR OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 966976; 2025 = 1319728; change +36%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1052455; share of 1557641 = 68% (shown as 1.1 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 159042
- Figure 5
cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 218076; share 14%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 1323365; share 85%
- Figure 8
cmdCode 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1410578 / sum of netWgt 165448 kg = 8.53 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 284150, flowCode M, partnerCode 842, primaryValue summed over reporters = 752840; world 1336752; share 56% (shown as 753 USD thousand)
- 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 28415000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=4738; CI=5809; DZ=5130; EG=3415; ET=147; GH=543; IL=3768; JO=298; KW=356; MA=1497; NG=35; OM=205; QA=10587; SA=13786; TN=694; ZA=8772; sum 59780 (shown as 60 EUR thousand)
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28415000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 49328; 2025 = 59780; change +21%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28415000, partner SA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 13786 (shown as 14 EUR thousand)
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Leather tanneries
- Pigment makers
- Metal plating firms
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28415000, 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 chromium salt market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $1.6 million under HS code 284150 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most chromium salt?
South Africa was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import chromium salt from?
The United States was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Colombia, Germany and Russia.
How do GCC and African imports of chromium salt compare?
The GCC countries with data took $218 thousand, or 14% of the total, and the African countries with data took $1.3 million, or 85%, each in its latest reported year.
How much chromium salt does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28415000 to the countries covered of €60 thousand in 2025. Saudi Arabia was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of chromium salt in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $8.53 per kilogram for HS 284150, across the countries that reported weight.
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