EU exports to the countries covered were €36.9 million in 2025.
What this market covers
Colorants are dyes and pigments used to add colour to textiles, plastics, paints, inks and foods. Manufacturers in these industries buy them in powder and liquid forms.
Typical segments
- Organic pigments
- Inorganic pigments
- Dyes
- Food colorants
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 320417 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 5% from 2020 to 2025.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region fell 12% 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 320417 (Synthetic organic pigments; preparations based on synthetic organic pigments of a kind). 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 32041700 (Synthetic organic pigments; preparations based on synthetic organic pigments of a kind), 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 $254.2 million under HS code 320417 (Synthetic organic pigments; preparations based on synthetic organic pigments of a kind) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 5 and 2023 for 2). | 254.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 320417 by the 11 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 5% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $168.4 million to $177.3 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +5 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $35.3 million in 2025, or 14% of the total. | 35.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $31.9 million in 2023. | 31.9 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $68.0 million, or 27% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 68.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $158.0 million, or 62% of the total. | 158.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 320417 was $5.33 per kilogram across the 19 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 5.33 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 32041700 (Synthetic organic pigments; preparations based on synthetic organic pigments of a kind) to the 19 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €36.9 million in 2025. | 36.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 32041700 to these countries were down 12% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €42.1 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -12 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 32041700 in 2025, at €7.6 million. | 7.6 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=320417 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=31937080; BHR2024=1754790; CIV2025=7773740; DZA2024=14755688; EGY2025=35308623; ETH2023=8843469; GHA2025=7292295; ISR2025=21434000; JOR2024=6752258; KEN2025=9206954; KWT2025=3121289; MAR2025=14978645; NGA2025=19599372; OMN2025=3742398; QAT2024=1210828; SAU2025=26186282; TUN2024=4286015; TZA2025=5458258; ZAF2025=30525663; sum=254167646 (shown as 254.2 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 168420064; 2025 = 177335224; change +5%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 35308623; share of 254167646 = 14%
- Figure 5
cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 67952666; share 27% (shown as 68.0 USD million)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 158028722; share 62%
- Figure 7
cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 254167646 / sum of netWgt 47667391 kg = 5.33 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 4
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 320417, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 31937080
- Figure 4
- 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 32041700, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=5579949; BH=49577; CI=1727667; DZ=1760025; EG=2959111; ET=12007; GH=805293; IL=7556272; JO=391408; KE=649214; KW=1745684; MA=4543564; NG=493866; OM=182150; QA=382519; SA=2525351; TN=1852602; TZ=171764; ZA=3532110; sum 36920133
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32041700, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 42086151; 2025 = 36920133; change -12%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32041700, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 7556272 (shown as 7.6 EUR million)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Textile makers
- Paint and ink makers
- Plastics converters
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 32041700, 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
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa colorants market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $254.2 million under HS code 320417 by 19 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most colorants?
Egypt was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
How do GCC and African imports of colorants compare?
The GCC countries with data took $68.0 million, or 27% of the total, and the African countries with data took $158.0 million, or 62%, each in its latest reported year.
How much colorants does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 32041700 to the countries covered of €36.9 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of colorants in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $5.33 per kilogram for HS 320417, across the countries that reported weight.
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