China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A water soluble cobalt salt used mainly to make battery cathode materials and in plating and pigments. Battery material makers and chemical firms buy it.
Typical segments
- Battery grade cobalt sulfate
- Technical grade cobalt sulfate
- Feed grade cobalt sulfate
- Plating grade cobalt sulfate
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 283329 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 118% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 20% 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 283329 (Sulphates). 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.
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 28332930 (Sulphates of cobalt and of titanium), 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 $92.8 million under HS code 283329 (Sulphates) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 92.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 283329 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 118% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $39.9 million to $87.1 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +118 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Morocco was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $36.6 million in 2025, or 39% of the total. | 36.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $14.3 million in 2025. | 14.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $16.5 million, or 18% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 16.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $68.1 million, or 73% of the total. | 68.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 4 largest importing countries in the region, which took 80% of its reported imports, with $36.4 million, or 49% of their imports under HS 283329 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 36.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 283329 was $1.33 per kilogram across the 15 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 1.33 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 28332930 (Sulphates of cobalt and of titanium) to the 5 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €914 thousand in 2025. | 914 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 28332930 to these countries were up 20% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €760 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +20 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Egypt was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 28332930 in 2025, at €824 thousand. | 824 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=283329 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=1927740; BHR2024=10809; CIV2025=2228459; DZA2024=1779606; EGY2025=9297579; ETH2023=264118; GHA2025=208738; ISR2025=7252000; JOR2024=935697; KEN2025=875586; KWT2025=109704; MAR2025=36560667; NGA2025=1667924; OMN2025=138939; QAT2024=16431; SAU2025=14297864; TUN2024=552600; TZA2025=522923; ZAF2025=14131268; sum=92778650 (shown as 92.8 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 39924430; 2025 = 87082912; change +118%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 504, period 2025, cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 36560667; share of 92778650 = 39% (shown as 36.6 USD million)
- Figure 4
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 14297864 (shown as 14.3 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 16501486; share 18%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 68089467; share 73% (shown as 68.1 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 90781476 / sum of netWgt 68488211 kg = 1.33 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 283329, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 36434540; world 74287378; share 49%
- 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 28332930, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: DZ=27637; EG=824113; IL=49576; MA=7497; TN=5670; sum 914493
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28332930, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 759936; 2025 = 914493; change +20%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 28332930, partner EG, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 824113
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Battery material makers
- Electroplaters
- Animal feed makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 28332930, 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 cobalt sulfate market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $92.8 million under HS code 283329 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most cobalt sulfate?
Morocco was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import cobalt sulfate from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included South Korea, Finland and Kazakhstan.
How do GCC and African imports of cobalt sulfate compare?
The GCC countries with data took $16.5 million, or 18% of the total, and the African countries with data took $68.1 million, or 73%, each in its latest reported year.
How much cobalt sulfate does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 28332930 to the countries covered of €914 thousand in 2025. Egypt was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of cobalt sulfate in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $1.33 per kilogram for HS 283329, across the countries that reported weight.
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