China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
A white pigment made from zinc sulfide and barium sulfate, used for opacity in paints, plastics, rubber and inks. Coating and plastics formulators buy it as a lower cost option to other whites.
Typical segments
- Standard grade
- Plastics grade
- Paint grade
- Rubber and ink grade
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 320642 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 10 countries reporting every year fell 68% from 2020 to 2024.
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 181% 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 320642 (Lithopone and other pigments and preparations based on zinc sulphide of a kind used for). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2021, Cote d'Ivoire 2021, Egypt 2025, Ethiopia 2023, Ghana 2024, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2024, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2024, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria.
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 32064200 (Lithopone and other pigments and preparations based on zinc sulphide of a kind used for), 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 $2.0 million under HS code 320642 (Lithopone and other pigments and preparations based on zinc sulphide of a kind used for) in their latest year with data (2025 for 8 countries, 2024 for 6, 2023 for 2 and 2021 for 2). | 2.0 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Imports under HS 320642 by the 10 countries that reported every year from 2020 to 2024 were down 68% in 2024 compared with 2020, from $5.3 million to $1.7 million, calculated from UN Comtrade values. | -68 % since 2020 | 2024 | UN Comtrade |
| Egypt was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $1.5 million in 2025, or 74% of the total. | 1.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates followed with $127 thousand in 2023. | 127 USD thousand | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $335 thousand, or 17% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 335 USD thousand | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 10 African countries with data accounted for $1.6 million, or 80% of the total. | 1.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 84% of its reported imports, with $1.5 million, or 93% of their imports under HS 320642 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 1.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 320642 was $3.03 per kilogram across the 18 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 3.03 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 32064200 (Lithopone and other pigments and preparations based on zinc sulphide of a kind used for) to the 3 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €321 thousand in 2025. | 321 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 32064200 to these countries were up 181% in 2025 compared with 2020, when they were €114 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +181 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 32064200 in 2025, at €316 thousand. | 316 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=320642 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=127289; BHR2021=644; CIV2021=1084; EGY2025=1460602; ETH2023=1513; GHA2024=37129; ISR2025=32000; JOR2024=33568; KEN2025=622; KWT2024=59049; MAR2025=3971; NGA2025=45068; OMN2024=10481; QAT2024=77450; SAU2025=59725; TUN2024=17672; TZA2025=1741; ZAF2025=7933; sum=1977540
- Figure 3
reporterCode 818, period 2025, cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 1460602; share of 1977540 = 74% (shown as 1.5 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 334637; share 17% (shown as 335 USD thousand)
- Figure 6
cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY ETH GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 1577334; share 80% (shown as 1.6 USD million)
- Figure 8
cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 1977540 / sum of netWgt 652838 kg = 3.03 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 2
cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for EGY ISR JOR KWT MAR OMN QAT SAU TUN ZAF: 2020 = 5263829; 2024 = 1706714; change -68%
- Figure 2
- 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 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 127289
- Figure 4
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
cmdCode 320642, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 1540938; world 1665340; share 93%
- 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 32064200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=316420; MA=1548; SA=3269; sum 321237
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32064200, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2020 = 114124; 2025 = 321237; change +181%
- Figure 11
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 32064200, partner AE, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 316420
- Figure 9
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Paint makers
- Plastics compounders
- Ink producers
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 32064200, 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
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa lithopone market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $2.0 million under HS code 320642 by 18 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most lithopone?
Egypt was the largest importer, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import lithopone from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included the United Kingdom, Italy and Oman.
How do GCC and African imports of lithopone compare?
The GCC countries with data took $335 thousand, or 17% of the total, and the African countries with data took $1.6 million, or 80%, each in its latest reported year.
How much lithopone does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 32064200 to the countries covered of €321 thousand in 2025. The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of lithopone in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $3.03 per kilogram for HS 320642, across the countries that reported weight.
Free sample
Get a free sample of this report
We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.
- Full table of contents
- Two sample chapters
- Method note and data outline