Cereal germ market in GCC

Earlier Report Observations

The cereal germ market in the GCC countries expanded rapidly from 2018 to 2023, with total volume rising from 27.5 thousand tons to 68.4 thousand tons. This growth was led by a sharp increase in domestic production, which climbed from 27.2 thousand tons to 68.2 thousand tons over the same period.

The market's strongest single-year gain occurred in 2019, when volume surged by 49%. While growth remained substantial in 2021 and 2022, it moderated to 4% in 2023 as the market approached 70 thousand tons. This expansion was supported by consistent increases in regional production capacity throughout the period.

Production cereal germ in GCC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cereal germ, 2017-2020

World map of production of cereal germ, 2017-2020

Cereal germ production in the GCC has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, production reached 45 248 tonnes, marking an 11.0% gain compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 71.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 19.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports cereal germ from GCC

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. The minimum value was recorded in 2018, while the maximum occurred in 2019, showing an 8.9-fold variation between these years. In 2020, cross-border shipments of cereal germ from the GCC amounted to 1.9 tonnes, representing an abrupt decrease of 45.0% compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 785.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—Seychelles, Egypt, and Djibouti—together absorbed 10.7% of total cereal germ exports in kind from the GCC.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. The minimum value was recorded in 2018, with the peak in 2019, resulting in a 5.6-fold amplitude between these two years. In 2020, foreign cereal germ supplies from the GCC totalled 2.1 thousand US dollars, which is 46.4% less than the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 458.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, three largest markets—Egypt, Germany, and Seychelles—remained central to exports in value terms, together accounting for 14.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from GCC in value, 2017-2020

Imports cereal germ to GCC

Imports in kind, t

Foreign cereal germ supplies to the GCC declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 183.6 tonnes, representing a 29.2% decline from a year earlier. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 14.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.2%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 273.6 tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 27.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, India (54.8% of imports in kind), Turkey (12.8% of imports in kind), and Lebanon (10.8% of imports in kind) remained the key directions for imports in kind, together accounting for 78.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to GCC in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Cereal germ deliveries to the GCC declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 235.0 thousand US dollars, indicating a robust drop of 17.6% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 21.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 374.0 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 24.9% and the largest decline in 2019 at 23.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over 2017 to 2020, India (39.0% of imports in value terms), the United States (19.0% of imports in value terms), and Turkey (14.6% of imports in value terms) remained the leading destinations in the country structure of imports in value terms, with a combined share of 72.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to GCC in value, 2017-2020