Middle East: Market for Prepared Dishes And Meals 2025

Market Size for Prepared Dishes And Meals in the Middle East

In 2021, the Middle Eastern prepared dish and meal market increased by 7.8% to $X, rising for the second year in a row after two years of decline. Overall, consumption, however, showed a slight downturn. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Production of Prepared Dishes And Meals in the Middle East

In value terms, prepared dish and meal production shrank modestly to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. In general, production recorded a noticeable decline. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 when the production volume increased by 3.8% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production hit record highs at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, production failed to regain momentum.

Exports of Prepared Dishes And Meals

Exports in the Middle East

Prepared dish and meal exports totaled X tons in 2021, increasing by 14% compared with the previous year's figure. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 when exports increased by 18%. Over the period under review, the exports hit record highs at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, prepared dish and meal exports rose sharply to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years. As a result, the exports attained the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Turkey (X tons) represented the largest exporter of prepared dishes and meals, comprising 47% of total exports. It was distantly followed by the United Arab Emirates (X tons), Israel (X tons) and Bahrain (X tons), together committing a 38% share of total exports. The following exporters - Oman (X tons), Lebanon (X tons) and Saudi Arabia (X tons) - each reached a 12% share of total exports.

Exports from Turkey increased at an average annual rate of +7.6% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Oman (+17.9%), Saudi Arabia (+11.6%), the United Arab Emirates (+10.5%) and Israel (+2.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Oman emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +17.9% from 2012-2021. Lebanon experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Bahrain (-9.2%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Turkey (+17 p.p.), the United Arab Emirates (+7.3 p.p.), Oman (+2.9 p.p.) and Saudi Arabia (+1.9 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while Bahrain saw its share reduced by -15.6% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Turkey ($X), Israel ($X) and the United Arab Emirates ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2021, together accounting for 84% of total exports. Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 14%.

Oman, with a CAGR of +21.8%, saw 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, declining by -2.6% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price recorded a slight curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the export price increased by 7.3%. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, the export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Oman (+3.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports of Prepared Dishes And Meals

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, approx. X tons of prepared dishes and meals were imported in the Middle East; growing by 19% against the previous year's figure. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.6% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, prepared dish and meal imports soared to $X in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports by Country

In 2021, the United Arab Emirates (X tons), Turkey (X tons), Saudi Arabia (X tons) and Iraq (X tons) was the major importer of prepared dishes and meals in the Middle East, constituting 70% of total import. It was distantly followed by Israel (X tons), generating a 4.8% share of total imports. Kuwait (X tons), Iran (X tons), Yemen (X tons), Oman (X tons), Lebanon (X tons), Jordan (X tons), Bahrain (X tons) and Syrian Arab Republic (X tons) held a minor share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the leading importing countries, was attained by Iraq (with a CAGR of +11.7%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest prepared dish and meal importing markets in the Middle East were Saudi Arabia ($X), the United Arab Emirates ($X) and Turkey ($X), together accounting for 61% of total imports. These countries were followed by Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Iran, Oman, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain and Syrian Arab Republic, which together accounted for a further 36%.

Iraq, with a CAGR of +17.3%, recorded 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

In 2021, the import price in the Middle East amounted to $X per ton, picking up by 3.6% against the previous year. Overall, the import price, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 an increase of 5.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices attained the maximum at $X per ton in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, import prices stood at a somewhat 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 Saudi Arabia ($X per ton), while Syrian Arab Republic ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Iraq (+5.0%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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