From 2020 to 2021, the value of exports from Middle Eastern countries accelerated by 19.5% partly due to higher petroleum prices.
In comparison, exports from all countries worldwide were worth $21.953 trillion in 2021, rising 25% in value since 2017 and growing by 25.5% from 2020 to 2021.
To put those metrics into context, consider that Mideast exports represent an estimated 5.5% by value of total global exports during 2021. That percentage falls below the 6.4% in 2017 and 5.8% in 2020. Over time, that slide reflects the shrinking proportionate value of exports shipped from the Middle East.
Based on statistics from the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Database, the total Gross Domestic Product for Middle Eastern countries amounted to an estimated $10 trillion in 2021 on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis. Therefore, exported products accounted for roughly 12.2% of the Middle East’s total economic output for 2021 in terms of GDP per PPP.
Given the Middle East’s calculated population of about 451.6 million people in 2021, the total $1.215 trillion in 2021 Middle Eastern exports translates to approximately $2,700 per person living in the Mideast. That dollar metric exceeds the average $1,800 per capita calculated for 2020.
Please note that Turkey and Egypt have been included with other Middle East countries for the purpose of this analysis. This is because, in accordance with our World Trade Organization statistical sources, Turkey is grouped with Asian nations although Egypt is listed under Africa.
Top Middle Eastern Export Countries
Below are Middle Eastern export countries presented in the order of highest dollar value for 2021 global shipments. Also shown is each country’s overall share of Middle Eastern exports.
| Rank | Exporter | 2021 Exports | Mideast% | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Saudi Arabia | $267,546,847,000 | 22.0% | +51.6% |
| 2. | UAE | $240,939,863,000 | 19.8% | -28.1% |
| 3. | Turkey | $225,264,314,000 | 18.5% | +32.8% |
| 4. | Iraq | $84,370,080,000 | 6.9% | +30.3% |
| 5. | Qatar | $79,869,446,000 | 6.6% | +55.1% |
| 6. | Iran | $75,144,618,000 | 6.2% | +83.1% |
| 7. | Israel | $59,828,554,000 | 4.9% | +19.3% |
| 8. | Kuwait | $57,233,564,000 | 4.7% | +42.6% |
| 9. | Oman | $56,496,833,000 | 4.6% | +61.8% |
| 10. | Egypt | $40,701,704,000 | 3.3% | +51.8% |
| 11. | Bahrain | $12,480,685,000 | 1.0% | +8% |
| 12. | Jordan | $8,490,683,000 | 0.7% | +6.7% |
| 13. | Lebanon | $4,229,977,000 | 0.3% | +11.1% |
| 14. | Yemen | $1,874,354,000 | 0.2% | +36.1% |
| 15. | Syria | $901,890,000 | 0.1% | -3.9% |
| 16. | Palestine | $94,724,000 | 0.01% | -0.91 |
On a year-over-year basis, the fastest-growing Mideast exporters from 2020 to 2021 were Iran (up 83.1%), Oman (up 61.8%), Qatar (up 55.1%), Egypt (up 51.8%), then Saudi Arabia (up 51.6%).
There was a trio of Mideast decliners in terms of export revenues year over year. These were Palestine (down -91%), United Arab Emirates (down -28.1%), and Syria (down -3.9%).
See also Saudi Arabia’s Top 10 Exports, Egypt’s Top 10 Exports and Turkey’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports. Accessed on September 5, 2022
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Middle East: Syria, Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity). Accessed on September 5, 2022
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Databases (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on September 5, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 5, 2022
Wikipedia, List of Middle East countries by population. Accessed on September 5, 2022
