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Consumer, Food & RetailMiddle East and AfricaUpdated

Middle East and Africa Citrus oil Market 2026: imports and key figures

Countries in the Middle East and Africa reported $11.5 million of imports of citrus oil and related goods (HS 330119) in their latest year with data. Saudi Arabia was the largest importer.

Also coveredEuropean Union

-10% since 2020

Imports under HS 330119 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 10%

$4.4million

Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $4.4 million in 2025

$2.1million

South Africa followed with $2.1 million in 2025

EU exports to the countries covered were €2.2 million in 2025.

What this market covers

Essential oils pressed from the peel of citrus fruit, such as orange, lemon and lime. Used for flavour, fragrance and cleaning products.

Typical segments

  • Orange oil
  • Lemon oil
  • Lime oil
  • Grapefruit oil
  • Mandarin oil

Top importing countries

Customs import value under HS 330119 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.

  1. Saudi Arabia (2025)4.4 USD million
  2. South Africa (2025)2.1 USD million
  3. United Arab Emirates (2023)1.4 USD million
  4. Israel (2025)1.1 USD million
  5. Tanzania (2025)0.7 USD million
  6. Egypt (2025)0.5 USD million
  7. Kuwait (2025)0.3 USD million
  8. Kenya (2025)0.3 USD million

GCC and Africa

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

  1. GCC6.1 USD million
  2. Jordan and Israel1.2 USD million
  3. North Africa0.7 USD million
  4. Sub-Saharan Africa3.6 USD million
ChartImports under HS 330119 by the 11 countries reporting every year, USD million
Imports under HS 330119 by the 11 countries reporting every year, USD million05101520252020: 10.8 USD million10.820202021: 24.1 USD million24.120212022: 7.5 USD million7.520222023: 5.9 USD million5.920232024: 11.2 USD million11.220242025: 9.7 USD million9.72025

Source: UN Comtrade

Why this market is moving now

  • Import value for the 11 countries reporting every year fell 10% from 2020 to 2025.
  • EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 413% 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 330119 (Essential oils of citrus fruit, whether or not terpeneless, incl. concretes and absolutes). 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.

EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 33011920 (Terpenic essential oils of citrus fruit, incl. concretes and absolutes), 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 18 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $11.5 million under HS code 330119 (Essential oils of citrus fruit, whether or not terpeneless, incl. concretes and absolutes) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 2).11.5 USD million2025UN Comtrade
Imports under HS 330119 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were down 10% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $10.8 million to $9.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values.-10 % since 20202025UN Comtrade
Saudi Arabia was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $4.4 million in 2025, or 38% of the total.4.4 USD million2025UN Comtrade
South Africa followed with $2.1 million in 2025.2.1 USD million2025UN Comtrade
The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $6.1 million, or 53% of the total, in their latest reported years.6.1 USD million2025UN Comtrade
The 11 African countries with data accounted for $4.3 million, or 37% of the total.4.3 USD million2025UN Comtrade
The average import value under HS 330119 was $15.28 per kilogram across the 17 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight.15.28 USD per kg2025UN Comtrade
EU exports of CN 33011920 (Terpenic essential oils of citrus fruit, incl. concretes and absolutes) to the 12 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €2.2 million in 2025.2.2 EUR million2025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 33011920 to these countries were up 413% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €433 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values.+413 % since 20202025Eurostat
The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 33011920 in 2025, at €1.1 million.1.1 EUR million2025Eurostat

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=330119 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1351508; BHR2024=17079; CIV2025=4598; DZA2024=160066; EGY2025=528739; ETH2023=157747; GHA2025=91867; ISR2025=1104000; JOR2024=52018; KEN2025=274216; KWT2025=299525; MAR2025=10467; NGA2025=189266; OMN2025=73927; SAU2025=4373399; TUN2024=11089; TZA2025=742470; ZAF2025=2107106; sum=11549086
    • Figure 2cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 10787441; 2025 = 9707712; change -10%
    • Figure 3reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 4373399; share of 11549086 = 38% (shown as 4.4 USD million)
    • Figure 4reporterCode 710, period 2025, cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2107106
    • Figure 5cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 6115438; share 53%
    • Figure 6cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 4277630; share 37% (shown as 4.3 USD million)
    • Figure 7cmdCode 330119, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 11532006 / sum of netWgt 754535 kg = 15.28 USD per kg
  2. 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 33011920, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=1105322; DZ=36409; EG=136798; GH=13735; IL=66496; JO=6990; KE=16532; MA=60004; OM=143990; SA=19242; TN=19845; ZA=596253; sum 2221616
    • Figure 9DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 33011920, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 433235; 2025 = 2221616; change +413%
    • Figure 10DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 33011920, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1105322

Buyers and suppliers

Who buys

  • Flavour and fragrance houses
  • Beverage makers
  • Cleaning product makers

EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025

Eurostat Comext, CN 33011920, EUR million.

  1. United Arab Emirates1.1 EUR million
  2. South Africa0.6 EUR million
  3. Oman0.1 EUR million
  4. Egypt0.1 EUR million
  5. Israel0.1 EUR million
  6. Morocco0.1 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

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  • 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 citrus oil market?

There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $11.5 million under HS code 330119 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.

Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most citrus oil?

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

How do GCC and African imports of citrus oil compare?

The GCC countries with data took $6.1 million, or 53% of the total, and the African countries with data took $4.3 million, or 37%, each in its latest reported year.

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

Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 33011920 to the countries covered of €2.2 million in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.

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

Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $15.28 per kilogram for HS 330119, across the countries that reported weight.

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