Japan was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Wafers, substrates and epitaxial layers of materials such as gallium nitride, silicon carbide and gallium arsenide. Chip makers buy them to build power, radio frequency and optical devices.
Typical segments
- Silicon carbide wafers
- Gallium nitride wafers
- Gallium arsenide wafers
- Epitaxial layers
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 381800 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 4% 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 18 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 381800 (Chemical elements and compounds doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs,). 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 2022, 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 381800 (Chemical elements and compounds doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs,), 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 $179.8 million under HS code 381800 (Chemical elements and compounds doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs,) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 3, 2023 for 2 and 2022 for 1). | 179.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 381800 by the 9 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2025 were up 4% in 2025 compared with 2020, from $170.6 million to $177.4 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | +4 % since 2020 | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $159.8 million in 2025, or 89% of the total. | 159.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Tanzania followed with $12.7 million in 2025. | 12.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $3.3 million, or 2% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 3.3 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 11 African countries with data accounted for $16.6 million, or 9% of the total. | 16.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Japan was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 98% of its reported imports, with $47.1 million, or 27% of their imports under HS 381800 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 47.1 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 381800 (Chemical elements and compounds doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs,) to the 15 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €31.4 million in 2025. | 31.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 381800 to these countries were down 12% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €35.7 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | -12 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 381800 in 2025, at €31.1 million. | 31.1 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=381800 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=300592; BHR2024=4714; CIV2025=263; DZA2024=1837; EGY2025=942533; ETH2023=17494; GHA2025=1031039; ISR2025=159837000; JOR2022=12233; KEN2025=1314433; KWT2025=23790; MAR2025=443492; NGA2025=123217; OMN2025=1475; SAU2025=2986562; TUN2024=7567; TZA2025=12691788; ZAF2025=14728; sum=179754758 (shown as 179.8 USD million)
- Figure 2
cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ISR KEN KWT MAR NGA OMN SAU TZA ZAF: 2020 = 170577902; 2025 = 177436487; change +4%
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 159837000; share of 179754758 = 89%
- Figure 4
reporterCode 834, period 2025, cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 12691788 (shown as 12.7 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN SAU = 3317133; share 2%
- Figure 6
cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV DZA EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 16588392; share 9% (shown as 16.6 USD million)
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 381800, flowCode M, partnerCode 392, primaryValue summed over reporters = 47068658; world 175515351; share 27% (shown as 47.1 USD million)
- 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 381800, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=24606; DZ=2140; ET=4945; GH=64; IL=31102246; JO=255; KW=2; MA=157380; NG=1830; OM=2725; QA=1837; SA=120828; TN=1849; TZ=1549; ZA=3534; sum 31425790
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 381800, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 35727080; 2025 = 31425790; change -12%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 381800, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 31102246
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Chip manufacturers
- Power device makers
- Optical device makers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 381800, 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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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa compound semiconductor materials market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $179.8 million under HS code 381800 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most compound semiconductor materials?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Tanzania and Saudi Arabia.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import compound semiconductor materials from?
Japan was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United States, Germany and China.
How do GCC and African imports of compound semiconductor materials compare?
The GCC countries with data took $3.3 million, or 2% of the total, and the African countries with data took $16.6 million, or 9%, each in its latest reported year.
How much compound semiconductor materials does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 381800 to the countries covered of €31.4 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
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