Market research

Lettuce and chicory market in GCC

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"GCC" region includes following countries:

Bahrain

Qatar

Kuwait

the United Arab Emirates

Oman

Saudi Arabia

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for lettuce and chicory in the GCC grew from 143.6 thousand tons in 2018 to a peak of 199.7 thousand tons in 2021, driven largely by a surge in imports to 165.2 thousand tons that year. After 2021, the market contracted to 181.7 thousand tons by 2023 as imports declined. Domestic production fluctuated, falling to 29.3 thousand tons in 2019 before recovering to 38.3 thousand tons in 2022.

In 2024, imports rose sharply to 185.2 thousand tons, coinciding with enhanced economic integration within the GCC that ensures free movement of goods, facilitating trade in agricultural products. Additionally, Qatar-based Hydrovest Technology secured investment to expand smart farming and launch new lettuce-based products, reflecting innovation and shifting consumer preferences toward healthy alternatives.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in GCC
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in GCC in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bahrain in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bahrain in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bahrain, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bahrain in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Bahrain in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bahrain, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bahrain in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bahrain in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bahrain, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bahrain in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Bahrain in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bahrain, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Bahrain by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production lettuce and chicory in GCC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of lettuce and chicory, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of lettuce and chicory, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, lettuce and chicory production in GCC experienced its largest decline of 16.9%, but rebounded in 2020 with 31 888 tonnes produced, marking an 8.7% increase from the previous year. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 35 319 tonnes, which represented a 23.2% surge. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 11.2%, averaging an annual growth rate of 3.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	23.2%	(16.9%)	8.7%	3.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports lettuce and chicory from GCC

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for lettuce and chicory from GCC showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2019, exports hit their lowest point at 1.7 thousand tonnes, a 57.6% drop that year. However, in 2020, exports rebounded sharply to 4.6 thousand tonnes, a 162.0% increase compared to 2019. The peak was in 2017, with exports 4.1 times higher than the 2019 minimum.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(42.2%)	(57.6%)	162.0%	(13.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Afghanistan and Egypt were the leading markets for GCC's lettuce and chicory exports in volume, together accounting for 8.8% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

After two years of decline, lettuce and chicory exports from GCC in value terms saw a modest recovery in 2020, reaching 7.0 million US dollars, up 1.1% from 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 6.9 million US dollars, following the largest annual decline of 27.8% in 2018. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 33.7%, averaging an annual decline of 12.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.8%)	(9.1%)	1.1%	(12.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the main markets for GCC's lettuce and chicory exports in value were Afghanistan (13.7% of exports), Egypt (2.1%), and the United States (1.6%), together making up 17.4% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports lettuce and chicory to GCC

Imports in kind, K t

Imports of lettuce and chicory into GCC continued to grow for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 124.4 thousand tonnes, a 2.0% increase from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 20.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.0%	8.6%	2.0%	6.5%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Jordan (27.8% of imports by volume), Iran (22.1%), and Spain (15.9%) were the primary sources for lettuce and chicory imports into GCC, together accounting for 65.8% of total import volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

After two years of growth, imports of lettuce and chicory into GCC in value terms declined in 2020 to 121.3 million US dollars, down 6.9% from 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 130.4 million US dollars, which included the largest annual increase of 5.8% that year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.4%	5.8%	(6.9%)	(0.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Spain (22.7% of import value), Jordan (15.5%), and the Netherlands (14.4%) were the key sources for lettuce and chicory imports into GCC in value terms, together representing 52.6% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io