🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates imports of food preparations: 2024 trade data
The United Arab Emirates imported $900.8 million of food preparations in 2024 (206.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 10% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of food preparations by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $900.8M | 206.3K t |
| 2023 | $879.1M | 199.4K t |
| 2022 | $796.6M | 189.8K t |
| 2021 | $644.9M | 138.0K t |
| 2020 | $487.1M | 121.2K t |
| 2019 | $533.2M | 110.2K t |
| 2018 | $502.5M | 97.5K t |
| 2017 | $453.1M | 106.6K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports food preparations from
The largest suppliers were United States (19%), India (11%), Malaysia (7%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 36%. Among the main suppliers, Malaysia grew fastest (+123% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $166.8M | 19% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $97.4M | 11% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $61.0M | 6.8% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $55.5M | 6.2% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $46.0M | 5.1% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $43.2M | 4.8% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $35.5M | 3.9% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $33.2M | 3.7% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $27.2M | 3% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $25.1M | 2.8% |
Types of food preparations under HS 2106
| 2106.90 | Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 | 91% |
| 2106.10 | Protein: concentrates and textured protein substances | 9.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2106.
Average import price of food preparations
The average declared value was about $4.37 per kg, 28% below the world average of $6.09, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Arab Emirates also exports food preparations
The United Arab Emirates exported $76.5 million of food preparations in 2024 (29.9 thousand tonnes). One buyer market dominates: Saudi Arabia accounted for 57% of the value. Among the main buyer markets, South Korea grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $43.9M | 58% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $2.3M | 3% |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | $1.8M | 2.4% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $1.8M | 2.4% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | $1.8M | 2.4% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | $1.7M | 2.3% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $1.7M | 2.2% |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | $1.5M | 2% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $1.5M | 1.9% |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | $1.3M | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 2106: Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included.
Food preparations trade in the United Arab Emirates: questions
What is the value of food preparations imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported food preparations worth $900.8 million in 2024 (206.3 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Arab Emirates import food preparations from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were United States (19%), India (11%), Malaysia (7%).
What is the average import price of food preparations in the United Arab Emirates?
The average declared import value was about $4.37 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $6.09 per kg.
Does the United Arab Emirates export food preparations?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported food preparations worth $76.5 million in 2024, mainly to Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Kenya.
What is the HS code for food preparations?
Food preparations falls under HS heading 2106 (Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading food preparations with the United Arab Emirates?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX builds the United Arab Emirates trade from the records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see who ships this product there.
Food preparations trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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