Water pipe tobacco trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in water pipe tobacco was worth $398.1 million in 2024, about 46.9 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 102% since 2017, and down 23% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $398.1M | 46.9K t |
| 2023 | $517.8M | 63.2K t |
| 2022 | $407.6M | 55.8K t |
| 2021 | $440.3M | 57.7K t |
| 2020 | $338.0M | 46.4K t |
| 2019 | $336.1M | 56.4K t |
| 2018 | $272.8M | 47.3K t |
| 2017 | $197.5M | 32.7K t |
Top water pipe tobacco exporting countries
Exports are led by Egypt (30%), Turkey (20%) and the United Arab Emirates (16%). 74 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 66%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | $119.3M | 30% |
| Turkey | $79.3M | 20% |
| United Arab Emirates | $64.4M | 16% |
| Poland | $33.7M | 8.5% |
| India | $28.9M | 7.3% |
| Uganda | $18.4M | 4.6% |
| Germany | $9.0M | 2.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $8.9M | 2.3% |
| Russia | $8.0M | 2% |
| Jordan | $7.2M | 1.8% |
| United States | $5.2M | 1.3% |
| France | $3.0M | 0.8% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Iraq is the biggest buyer with 17% of world imports, ahead of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 33% across 155 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Iraq | $69.0M | 17% |
| United Arab Emirates | $32.2M | 8.1% |
| Saudi Arabia | $31.2M | 7.8% |
| Spain | $26.2M | 6.6% |
| United States | $25.4M | 6.4% |
| Libya | $25.1M | 6.3% |
| India | $22.7M | 5.7% |
| Syria | $14.6M | 3.7% |
| Bahrain | $10.7M | 2.7% |
| Germany | $9.7M | 2.4% |
| Nigeria | $9.3M | 2.3% |
| Mozambique | $8.9M | 2.2% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $8.48 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Poland averaged $20.51 per kg and Uganda $2.82 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Water pipe tobacco (HS 2403.11) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2403.11: Tobacco: smoking, water pipe tobacco as specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any proportion. HS 2403 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most water pipe tobacco?
Egypt exported $119.3 million in 2024, 30% of the world total, followed by Turkey (20%) and the United Arab Emirates (16%). In all, 74 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most water pipe tobacco?
Iraq imported $69.0 million in 2024, 17% of world imports, ahead of the United Arab Emirates (8%) and Saudi Arabia (8%). The top three importers together take 33%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in water pipe tobacco?
It was worth $398.1 million in 2024, about 46.9 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 102% since 2017. The peak year was 2023 at $517.8 million. 74 countries reported exports and 155 reported imports.
What is the average price of water pipe tobacco per kg?
The world average declared value was about $8.48 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Poland averaged $20.51 per kg and Uganda $2.82 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for water pipe tobacco?
The HS code for water pipe tobacco is subheading 2403.11, in chapter 24 (tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2403 page.
How can I find water pipe tobacco buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading water pipe tobacco, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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