MENA: Butter Market 2025

Butter Market Size in MENA

The MENA's butter market was estimated at $X in 2022, growing by 2.6% against the previous year. In general, consumption, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Butter Production in MENA

In value terms, butter production rose slightly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2019 when the production volume increased by 39% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

Butter Exports

Exports in MENA

In 2022, overseas shipments of butter increased by 129% to X tons, rising for the second consecutive year after three years of decline. Over the period under review, exports recorded a strong expansion. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 with an increase of 307%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, butter exports surged to $X in 2022. In general, exports enjoyed strong growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 when exports increased by 526%. The level of export peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

Turkey represented the key exporting country with an export of about X tons, which finished at 64% of total exports. The United Arab Emirates (X tons) held the second position in the ranking, followed by Saudi Arabia (X tons). All these countries together took approx. 30% share of total exports. Iran (X tons) held a little share of total exports.

Turkey was also the fastest-growing in terms of the butter exports, with a CAGR of +45.6% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Iran (+13.0%) and Saudi Arabia (+2.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates (-3.2%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Turkey increased by +60 percentage points. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Turkey ($X) remains the largest butter supplier in MENA, comprising 73% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Saudi Arabia ($X), with an 18% share of total exports. It was followed by the United Arab Emirates, with a 4.2% share.

In Turkey, butter exports expanded at an average annual rate of +43.7% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Saudi Arabia (+9.3% per year) and the United Arab Emirates (-6.3% per year).

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the export price in MENA amounted to $X per ton, flattening at the previous year. Export price indicated a buoyant expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 an increase of 54% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export prices hit record highs at $X per ton in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Saudi Arabia ($X per ton), while the United Arab Emirates ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Saudi Arabia (+7.1%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Butter Imports

Imports in MENA

In 2022, after two years of decline, there was significant growth in overseas purchases of butter, when their volume increased by 9.6% to X tons. Over the period under review, imports, however, showed a noticeable curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when imports increased by 12% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, butter imports soared to $X in 2022. Overall, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of import peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2022, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Saudi Arabia (X tons), distantly followed by Bahrain (X tons), the United Arab Emirates (X tons), Morocco (X tons) and Egypt (X tons) represented the major importers of butter, together constituting 74% of total imports. Qatar (X tons), Kuwait (X tons), Israel (X tons), Iran (X tons), Oman (X tons) and Iraq (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Iraq (with a CAGR of +22.4%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X), Bahrain ($X) and Egypt ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, together accounting for 51% of total imports. The United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Qatar, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Iran and Iraq lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 41%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Iraq, with a CAGR of +25.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

The import price in MENA stood at $X per ton in 2022, picking up by 11% against the previous year. Over the last decade, it increased at an average annual rate of +3.0%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when the import price increased by 33% against the previous year. The level of import peaked in 2022 and is likely to see gradual growth in years to come.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2022, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Iraq ($X per ton), while Iran ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Bahrain (+3.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform