Middle East: Cheese Market 2024

Cheese Market Size in the Middle East

The Middle Eastern cheese market fell slightly to $X in 2021, remaining constant against the previous year. In general, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of the market remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Cheese Production in the Middle East

In value terms, cheese production contracted to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 with an increase of 9.7% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, production failed to regain momentum.

Cheese Exports

Exports in the Middle East

In 2021, overseas shipments of cheese decreased by -15.5% to X tons, falling for the third year in a row after two years of growth. Over the period under review, exports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when exports increased by 48%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, cheese exports contracted to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.4% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 47%. The level of export peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

Saudi Arabia (X tons) and Turkey (X tons) were the main exporters of cheese in 2021, accounting for near 39% and 32% of total exports, respectively. Bahrain (X tons) took the next position in the ranking, distantly followed by the United Arab Emirates (X tons). All these countries together held approx. 20% share of total exports. The following exporters - Syrian Arab Republic (X tons), Jordan (X tons) and Iran (X tons) - each amounted to a 5.9% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the key exporting countries, was attained by Iran (with a CAGR of +10.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X), Turkey ($X) and Bahrain ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, together comprising 87% of total exports. These countries were followed by the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Syrian Arab Republic and Iran, which together accounted for a further 10%.

The United Arab Emirates, with a CAGR of +8.1%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the export price in the Middle East amounted to $X per ton, increasing by 2.7% against the previous year. Over the last nine-year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 an increase of 21%. The level of export peaked in 2021 and is likely to see steady growth in years to come.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Bahrain ($X per ton), while Iran ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Jordan (+5.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Cheese Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, purchases abroad of cheese decreased by -4.2% to X tons, falling for the third year in a row after two years of growth. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 when imports increased by 13%. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, cheese imports declined to $X in 2021. Overall, imports, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when imports increased by 14% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X. From 2015 to 2021, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Imports by Country

Saudi Arabia was the largest importing country with an import of about X tons, which resulted at 40% of total imports. The United Arab Emirates (X tons) held the second position in the ranking, followed by Iraq (X tons), Yemen (X tons), Kuwait (X tons) and Oman (X tons). All these countries together held approx. 40% share of total imports. Bahrain (X tons), Jordan (X tons), Israel (X tons), Lebanon (X tons), Qatar (X tons) and Turkey (X tons) took a relatively small share of total imports.

Imports into Saudi Arabia increased at an average annual rate of +3.7% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Israel (+20.2%), Turkey (+2.5%), Yemen (+2.2%) and Iraq (+1.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Israel emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +20.2% from 2012-2021. Bahrain and Qatar experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Oman (-1.1%), the United Arab Emirates (-2.4%), Kuwait (-3.7%), Jordan (-6.2%) and Lebanon (-7.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Saudi Arabia and Israel increased by +10 and +2.7 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Saudi Arabia ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported cheese in the Middle East, comprising 37% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by the United Arab Emirates ($X), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by Iraq, with an 8.7% share.

In Saudi Arabia, cheese imports increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2012-2021. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: the United Arab Emirates (+1.6% per year) and Iraq (-0.2% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The import price in the Middle East stood at $X per ton in 2021, declining by -3.2% against the previous year. In general, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2020 when the import price increased by 6.6% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Qatar ($X per ton), while Yemen ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United Arab Emirates (+4.1%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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