Hard aged cheese imports in the United Arab Emirates: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Arab Emirates imported $155.4 million of hard aged cheese in 2024 (22.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is 8% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% a year on average.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $155.4M | 22.5K t |
| 2023 | $169.2M | 33.5K t |
| 2022 | $162.8M | 34.6K t |
| 2021 | $129.7M | 28.1K t |
| 2020 | $119.9M | 27.3K t |
| 2019 | $128.4M | 29.1K t |
| 2018 | $135.2M | 29.8K t |
| 2017 | $86.3M | 14.1K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports hard aged cheese from
Most of the value came from United Kingdom (14%), Italy (13%), France (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 37%. Among the main suppliers, United Kingdom grew fastest (+60% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $22.0M | 14% |
| Italy | $19.6M | 13% |
| France | $16.4M | 11% |
| Saudi Arabia | $16.0M | 10% |
| Netherlands | $13.1M | 8.5% |
| Ireland | $12.2M | 7.9% |
| Czech Republic | $10.7M | 6.9% |
| Turkey | $7.2M | 4.6% |
| India | $6.4M | 4.1% |
| Hungary | $5.6M | 3.6% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $6.91 per kg, close to the world average of $6.07.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hard aged cheese exports from the United Arab Emirates
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates exported hard aged cheese worth $5.1 million (981 tonnes). Seychelles alone took 54% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Bahrain grew fastest (+44% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seychelles | $2.8M | 54% |
| Kuwait | $654K | 13% |
| Saudi Arabia | $613K | 12% |
| Bahrain | $433K | 8.5% |
| Maldives | $289K | 5.7% |
| Mauritius | $78K | 1.5% |
| Philippines | $59K | 1.2% |
| Sri Lanka | $50K | 1% |
| Qatar | $31K | 0.6% |
| Cote d'Ivoire | $31K | 0.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
The shipment records behind United Arab Emirates hard aged cheese imports (HS 0406.90): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
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 0406.90: Dairy produce: cheese (not grated, powdered or processed), n.e.c. in heading no. 0406.
Common questions
What is the value of hard aged cheese imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported hard aged cheese worth $155.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 22.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 30th of 222 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was down 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply hard aged cheese to the United Arab Emirates?
The United Kingdom was the largest supplier with 14% of the value ($22.0 million), followed by Italy (13%) and France (11%). The top three together account for 37%, out of 47 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 60% on the year.
What is the average import price of hard aged cheese per kg?
The average declared import value was about $6.91 per kg in 2024, 14% above the world average of $6.07 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of hard aged cheese to the United Arab Emirates changed since 2017?
Imports went from $86.3 million in 2017 to $155.4 million in 2024, an increase of 80%. The peak was 2023 at $169.2 million. Over 8 years the average was $135.8 million a year.
Does the United Arab Emirates also export hard aged cheese?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported $5.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Seychelles, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. On balance the United Arab Emirates is a net importer of this product, by about $150.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for hard aged cheese?
The HS code for hard aged cheese is subheading 0406.90. It sits in HS chapter 04 (dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0406 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for the United Arab Emirates. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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