Middle East: Candied Fruit Market 2025

Candied Fruit Market Size in the Middle East

In 2021, the Middle Eastern candied fruit market increased by 9.3% to $X, rising for the second consecutive year after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +8.2% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, consumption increased by +15.7% against 2019 indices. The level of consumption peaked in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

Candied Fruit Production in the Middle East

In value terms, candied fruit production dropped to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. The total production indicated a prominent increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +7.0% over the last nine years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2021 figures, production decreased by +0.4% against 2019 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 with an increase of 33%. The level of production peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, production remained at a lower figure.

Saudi Arabia (X tons) remains the largest candied fruit producing country in the Middle East, accounting for 33% of total volume. Moreover, candied fruit production in Saudi Arabia exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Iraq (X tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Syrian Arab Republic (X tons), with a 15% share.

From 2012 to 2021, the average annual growth rate of volume in Saudi Arabia stood at +26.6%. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: Iraq (+9.7% per year) and Syrian Arab Republic (+8.1% per year).

Candied Fruit Exports

Exports in the Middle East

After two years of decline, shipments abroad of candied fruits increased by 59% to X tons in 2021. Overall, exports posted perceptible growth. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 with an increase of 70% against the previous year. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, candied fruit exports soared to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, exports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at $X in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports by Country

Lebanon represented the largest exporter of candied fruits in the Middle East, with the volume of exports amounting to X tons, which was near 51% of total exports in 2021. Turkey (X tons) took the second position in the ranking, distantly followed by Iran (X tons), the United Arab Emirates (X tons) and Oman (X tons). All these countries together took approx. 41% share of total exports. The following exporters - Israel (X tons) and Kuwait (X tons) - each amounted to a 4.3% share of total exports.

Exports from Lebanon increased at an average annual rate of +19.9% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Kuwait (+84.5%), Iran (+20.8%), Oman (+13.7%) and Turkey (+6.5%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Kuwait emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +84.5% from 2012-2021. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates (-14.5%) and Israel (-20.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, Oman and Kuwait increased by +38, +6.8, +4.6, +2.7 and +2.1 percentage points, respectively.

In value terms, the largest candied fruit supplying countries in the Middle East were Turkey ($X), Lebanon ($X) and the United Arab Emirates ($X), together comprising 76% of total exports. These countries were followed by Oman, Israel, Iran and Kuwait, which together accounted for a further 14%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Kuwait, with a CAGR of +76.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, 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 -9.9% against the previous year. Overall, the export price saw a noticeable downturn. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 an increase of 40%. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2016 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

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

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United Arab Emirates (+8.7%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Candied Fruit Imports

Imports in the Middle East

In 2021, purchases abroad of candied fruits was finally on the rise to reach X tons for the first time since 2017, thus ending a three-year declining trend. Overall, imports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when imports increased by 29%. The volume of import peaked at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, candied fruit imports skyrocketed to $X in 2021. Total imports indicated a modest increase from 2012 to 2021: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% over the last nine-year period. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

The United Arab Emirates represented the main importer of candied fruits in the Middle East, with the volume of imports finishing at X tons, which was near 39% of total imports in 2021. Oman (X tons) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 16% share, followed by Israel (12%), Turkey (11%) and Iran (8.9%). The following importers - Kuwait (X tons) and Qatar (X tons) - each recorded an 8.2% share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to candied fruit imports into the United Arab Emirates stood at +6.2%. At the same time, Turkey (+19.2%), Kuwait (+11.0%) and Israel (+1.1%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Turkey emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +19.2% from 2012-2021. Oman experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Iran (-1.4%) and Qatar (-5.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of the United Arab Emirates (+15 p.p.), Turkey (+8.4 p.p.) and Kuwait (+2.5 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Iran (-1.6 p.p.) and Qatar (-2.6 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest candied fruit importing markets in the Middle East were the United Arab Emirates ($X), Israel ($X) and Iran ($X), with a combined 74% share of total imports. These countries were followed by Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey, which together accounted for a further 20%.

Turkey, with a CAGR of +8.6%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, among 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, rising by 7.5% against the previous year. In general, the import price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 an increase of 17% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2015 to 2021, the import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was Israel ($X per ton), while Turkey ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Iran (+9.0%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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