China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Dark residue from distilling coal tar, used as a binder for carbon and graphite products. Aluminium smelters, graphite electrode makers and roofing producers buy it.
Typical segments
- Electrode binder pitch
- Impregnating pitch
- Refractory pitch
- Roofing and coating pitch
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 270810 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 8 countries reporting every year rose 117% from 2020 to 2023.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 26% 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 13 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 270810 (Pitch obtained from coal tar or from other mineral tars). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Egypt 2024, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Nigeria 2022, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia.
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 27081000 (Pitch obtained from coal tar or from other mineral tars), 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 13 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $371.3 million under HS code 270810 (Pitch obtained from coal tar or from other mineral tars) in their latest year with data (2025 for 7 countries, 2024 for 4, 2023 for 1 and 2022 for 1). | 371.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 270810 by the 8 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2023 were up 117% in 2023 compared with 2020, from $210.2 million to $456.2 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +117 % since 2020 | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $217.8 million in 2023, or 59% of the total. | 217.8 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $43.9 million in 2025. | 43.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $326.7 million, or 88% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 326.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 6 African countries with data accounted for $44.4 million, or 12% of the total. | 44.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 82% of its reported imports, with $221.9 million, or 73% of their imports under HS 270810 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 221.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 27081000 (Pitch obtained from coal tar or from other mineral tars) to the 2 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €2.5 million in 2025. | 2.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 27081000 to these countries were up 26% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €2.0 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +26 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| South Africa was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 27081000 in 2025, at €2.5 million. | 2.5 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=270810 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=217776638; BHR2024=35530; EGY2024=221; GHA2025=2140348; ISR2025=66000; JOR2024=29676; KEN2025=1196; NGA2022=36; OMN2025=26523051; QAT2024=38459358; SAU2025=43943613; TZA2025=2291; ZAF2025=42305124; sum=371283080 (shown as 371.3 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE EGY ISR JOR OMN QAT SAU ZAF: 2020 = 210177190; 2023 = 456219263; change +117%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 217776638; share of 371283080 = 59% (shown as 217.8 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR OMN QAT SAU = 326738189; share 88%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY GHA KEN NGA TZA ZAF = 44449215; share 12%
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 43943613
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 270810, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 221932669; world 304025374; share 73%
- Figure 7
- 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 27081000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=4682; ZA=2499103; sum 2503785
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 27081000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 1989208; 2025 = 2503785; change +26%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 27081000, partner ZA, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 2499103
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Aluminium smelters
- Graphite electrode makers
- Refractory producers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 27081000, 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
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa coal tar pitch market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $371.3 million under HS code 270810 by 13 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most coal tar pitch?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import coal tar pitch from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included South Korea, Belgium and Germany.
How do GCC and African imports of coal tar pitch compare?
The GCC countries with data took $326.7 million, or 88% of the total, and the African countries with data took $44.4 million, or 12%, each in its latest reported year.
How much coal tar pitch does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 27081000 to the countries covered of €2.5 million in 2025. South Africa was the largest destination.
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