Middle East’s fast growing agri-food import market: A $5 billion opportunity
The Middle East has become a major destination for food imports due to limited agricultural capacity, water scarcity, and growing populations. Countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt heavily rely on imports to satisfy domestic demand, particularly for dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, and other agri-food products. The region’s dependence on foreign suppliers is evident in the importation of both raw and processed food products, driven by changing consumer preferences and rapid urbanization.
Food Import Dependency
The Middle East’s import dependency, especially in countries such as Saudi Arabia, is significant. Saudi Arabia, for instance, imports over 80% of its food needs due to limited arable land (1.5% of total land). The country is particularly reliant on imports for dairy, meat, and fresh produce. Dairy imports come predominantly from New Zealand, UAE, and USA, while Brazil is the leading supplier of meat, accounting for 79% of imports. For fruits and vegetables, Saudi Arabia imports from China, Turkey, and Netherlands. These imports are essential due to the region’s growing population and increased demand for quality food products (Source: Best Food Importers, link).
Similarly, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also relies heavily on imports due to its limited agricultural capacity. Dairy products come mainly from New Zealand and Europe, while Brazil and Australia supply the majority of the UAE’s meat imports. The UAE also imports fruits and vegetables from India, Pakistan, and African countries, making it a central hub for food trade in the region (Source: Agriculture Saudi Arabia Report, link).
In Qatar, the blockade of 2017 led to an increased focus on self-sufficiency, yet the country continues to import dairy from Turkey, Iran, and the EU, and meat from Brazil, Australia, and India. Despite some local production, Qatar still imports a significant portion of its fresh produce from Iran, Jordan, and India (Source: Best Food Importers, link).
Regional Trade and Export
Countries like Turkey and Egypt play pivotal roles as both importers and exporters in the region. Turkey is a major exporter of fruits and vegetables to Gulf countries but also imports dairy from Germany and the Netherlands, and meat from Brazil and Australia. Egypt is one of the largest exporters of fruits and vegetables in the region, supplying countries such as Saudi Arabia with citrus fruits and potatoes. At the same time, Egypt imports significant quantities of dairy and meat from EU and Brazil, respectively (Source: World Bank WITS, link).
The Halal Market: A Key Driver in Agri-Food Trade
The global halal market is undergoing significant growth, driven by the increasing Muslim population and heightened awareness about food safety, hygiene, and ethical consumption. This growing demand is shaping global food trade, especially in regions like the Middle East.
Market Size and Growth
The global halal food market was valued at $2.45 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach $5.8 trillion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3% during this period. The key growth drivers include the rising demand for halal products among Muslim consumers, as well as increasing interest from non-Muslims who seek higher food quality and ethical standards (Source: IMARC Group, link).
Key Halal Product Categories
- Meat, Poultry, and Seafood: These remain the largest segments within the halal market. Countries like Brazil and Australia dominate exports of halal-certified meat, especially to the Middle East.
- Dairy Products: The demand for halal-certified milk, cheese, and yogurt is rapidly expanding, with major producers like New Zealand and Malaysia meeting global demand (Source: Globe Newswire, link).
- Fruits and Vegetables: There is growing demand for fresh, natural, and halal-certified produce. Increasing numbers of consumers are seeking food that meets halal standards and is ethically produced (Source: Introspective Market Research, link).
- Confectionery and Processed Foods: Halal-certified snacks, sweets, and convenience foods are seeing increased demand, especially in urban centers and online retail platforms.
Major Exporters in the Halal Market
- Brazil: The largest exporter of halal products, particularly meat, supplying significant quantities to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
- India: A key supplier of halal-certified meat and processed food.
- Australia: A major exporter of halal beef and lamb, with a strong market presence in the Middle East.
- Malaysia: Known for its high standards in halal certification, Malaysia exports a variety of halal-certified processed foods (Source: IMARC Group, link).
Major Importers in the Halal Market
- Indonesia: The largest halal food market by value, importing a wide range of halal products.
- Saudi Arabia: A significant importer of halal-certified meat and other food products.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): Acts as a regional hub for halal food imports, facilitating distribution across the Gulf.
- Malaysia: Both a producer and a significant consumer of halal products, especially processed foods (Source: Introspective Market Research, link).
The agri-food import market in the Middle East, coupled with the growing global halal market, presents a unique landscape of both challenges and opportunities for producers and exporters. With increasing dependence on imports for essential food products and a rising demand for halal-certified goods, the Middle East is at the forefront of a dynamic and evolving food trade ecosystem. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are key players in this system, importing vast quantities of dairy, meat, and produce to meet growing demand. Simultaneously, the global halal market’s growth offers substantial opportunities for producers worldwide, with the market expected to reach $5.8 trillion by 2032.
In this context, businesses involved in the global food trade must adapt to the shifting demands of halal consumers and the unique import needs of the Middle East, leveraging ethical practices, sustainability, and halal certification to stay competitive in these rapidly growing markets.
Agri-Food Imports in the Middle East: A Look at the 2024 SIAL Edition
The Middle East remains one of the most import-dependent regions globally for essential food products such as dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetables. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt are central to this market, which continues to grow as consumer demand for high-quality and ethically sourced products rises. Alongside this trend, the global halal market is expanding rapidly, influencing the region’s food import strategies and preferences.
As the global halal food market is expected to reach $5.8 trillion by 2032, the Middle East has cemented its role as a crucial hub for the halal food industry. This growth is driven by increased demand for halal-certified meat, dairy, and other food products, not just from Muslim consumers but also from non-Muslims who prioritize ethical consumption.
Key Exhibitors from the Middle East at SIAL 2024
The upcoming SIAL 2024 will see participation from several leading food and agri-business companies from the Middle East. These exhibitors will showcase a range of products, including halal-certified items, highlighting the region’s growing influence on global food trends. Here is a list of some of the main exhibitors from the Middle East expected to participate in SIAL 2024:
- A HASAS AFT FOODSTUFF TRD LLC
- ADAMS FOOD CATERING COMPANY
- AEGAN INTERNATIONAL DMCC
- AGRICO INTERNATIONAL DMCC
- AL AIN FARMS
- AL BARAKAH DATES FACTORY L.L.C
- AL GHURAIR FOODS LLC
- AL QUTOF AL MOBARAKA DATE FACTORY LLC
- AMARION FOODS DMCC
- ANORKA FOOD INDUSTRIES LLC
- APIS PURE FOODSTUFF TRADING LLC
- ASTERIA TRADE
- BRIGHT ACT MIDDLE EAST (POTATO MEGA CHIPS)
- DANA DAIRY TRADING LLC
- DELTA FOOD INDUSTRIES FZC
- DR. NUTRITION CENTER L.L.C
- DUBAI CHAMBERS
- DUBAI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
- DUBAI INDUSTRIAL CITY
- EMIRATES INDUSTRY FOR CAMEL MILK AND PRODUCTS
- EMIRATES MACARONI FACTORY
- EMIRATES PRINTING PRESS
- EVENTICA COMMUNICATIONS
- FORTUNA TRADING DMCC
- FREEZ MIX BY BOUTIQUE BEVERAGES INTERNATIONAL FZ- LLC
- FROZEN FOODS TRADING DMCC
- GENIUS FOODSTUFF TRADING LLC
- GLOBAL FOODS SOLUTIONS FZE
- GMG FOODS FZCO
- HOTPACK PACKAGING INDUSTRIES LLC
- HOUSE OF POPS
- HUNTER FOODS LIMITED FZCO
- JAFZA
- JAMEEL INTERNATIONAL FOODSTUFF TRADING LLC
- KARAM FOODS INDUSTRIES LLC
- KARIBU FOOD GENERAL TRADING
- MAJD FOOD COMPANY
- MARKETING CHEF SPERXOS AND PR
- MIDDLE EAST PRODUCTS EXPORT CO.
- NAKHEEL OMAN
- NATIONAL CENTRE FOR PALMS & DATES
- ORONTES DAIRY MANUFACTURING LLC
- PAR EMPIRE
- PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR INDUSTRY
- RADIANT PACKAGING INDUSTRY LLC
- SAFCO INTERNATIONAL GEN TRDG CO LLC
- SAM GLOBAL TRADING
- SARVIN TECHNICAL SERVICES LLC
- SAUDI EXPORTS
- SHARJAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
- SHIRIN ASAL COMPANY
- SILVER LINE GATE FOODSTUFF TRADING LLC
- STAR FOODSTUFF MANUFACTURING CO LLC
- SUN IMPEX INTERNATIONAL FOODS LLC
- TAYSEER ARAR TRADING CO. LLC
- UNIKAI FOODS PJSC
- UNITED FOODS CO. (PJSC)
- UNIVERSAL REACH GENERAL TRADING LLC
These exhibitors represent a wide range of products, from camel milk to processed foods, showcasing the diversity and innovation present in the Middle Eastern food sector. This makes SIAL 2024 a crucial event for anyone involved in the global food industry.
SIAL 2024 will provide an opportunity for these exhibitors to display their innovations and expand their reach into new markets, driving the conversation on sustainability, food security, and halal certifications in the global food trade.
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