Middle East: Alums Market 2024

Alums Market Size in the Middle East

The Middle Eastern alums market shrank to $X in 2022, which is down by -12.7% against the previous year. Overall, consumption, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the market hit record highs at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2022, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Alums Production in the Middle East

In value terms, alums production shrank modestly to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total output value increased at an average annual rate of +2.7% over the period from 2012 to 2022; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when the production volume increased by 24%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2022, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Alums Exports

Exports in the Middle East

In 2022, approx. X tons of alums were exported in the Middle East; picking up by 2.9% against the year before. In general, exports enjoyed buoyant growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 with an increase of 88% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in years to come.

In value terms, alums exports reduced slightly to $X in 2022. Overall, exports saw a buoyant expansion. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 65%. As a result, the exports reached the peak of $X, and then contracted in the following year.

Exports by Country

Turkey prevails in exports structure, finishing at X tons, which was near 91% of total exports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Iran (X tons), committing a 5.8% share of total exports. The United Arab Emirates (X tons) held a relatively small share of total exports.

Turkey was also the fastest-growing in terms of the alums exports, with a CAGR of +6.8% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Iran (+3.7%) displayed positive paces of growth. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates (-4.6%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2022, the share of Turkey increased by +11 percentage points. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Turkey ($X) remains the largest alums supplier in the Middle East, comprising 96% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Iran ($X), with a 2.6% share of total exports.

In Turkey, alums exports increased at an average annual rate of +10.8% over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Iran (+1.6% per year) and the United Arab Emirates (-10.7% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2022, which is down by -6.3% against the previous year. Export price indicated a temperate increase from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +2.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, alums export price increased by +25.6% against 2019 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when the export price increased by 31% against the previous year. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2017 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Turkey ($X per ton), while Iran ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Turkey (+3.7%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Alums Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2022, approx. X tons of alums were imported in the Middle East; waning by -19.4% on the previous year. Total imports indicated a tangible expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +71.2% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when imports increased by 113% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons, and then dropped remarkably in the following year.

In value terms, alums imports shrank to $X in 2022. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 45%. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X, and then fell in the following year.

Imports by Country

The United Arab Emirates was the main importer of alums in the Middle East, with the volume of imports amounting to X tons, which was approx. 50% of total imports in 2022. It was distantly followed by Saudi Arabia (X tons), Turkey (X tons), Iran (X tons), Syrian Arab Republic (X tons) and Yemen (X tons), together achieving a 39% share of total imports. The following importers - Iraq (X tons) and Lebanon (X tons) - together made up 5.2% of total imports.

Imports into the United Arab Emirates increased at an average annual rate of +6.3% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Iran (+15.0%), Syrian Arab Republic (+7.9%) and Saudi Arabia (+2.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Iran emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +15.0% from 2012-2022. Lebanon and Iraq experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Turkey (-3.2%) and Yemen (-4.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of the United Arab Emirates (+16 p.p.), Iran (+4.3 p.p.) and Syrian Arab Republic (+2.5 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Turkey (-5.3 p.p.) and Yemen (-5.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the United Arab Emirates ($X), Turkey ($X) and Saudi Arabia ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, with a combined 62% share of total imports. Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 27%.

Iran, with a CAGR of +9.8%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries 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 the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2022, with an increase of 8.3% against the previous year. Overall, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the import price increased by 51% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices reached the peak figure at $X per ton in 2020; however, from 2021 to 2022, import prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

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 Turkey ($X per ton), while Syrian Arab Republic ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Yemen (+9.0%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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