Yemen’s imports totaled an estimated US$9.51 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a 30.9% increase from $7.26 billion five years earlier in 2017.

Year over year, the cost of Yemeni imports fell by -8.5% compared to $10.4 billion for 2020.

Based on the most recent estimates, over two-thirds (67.9%) of Yemen’s total imports by value in 2021 were sold by fellow Asian countries. Smaller percentages were furnished by suppliers in Europe (14.4%), Latin America (8.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (5.7%), and North America (3.9%).

Focusing on the Middle East geography, 36.8% of Yemen’s total spending on imports was for products originating from other Mideast trade partners.

Given Yemen’s population of 27.4 million people, its total $9.51 billion in 2021 imports translates to roughly $235 in yearly product demand from every person in the country.

Yemen’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Yemen’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Yemen.

1. Cereals: US$1.4 billion (14.3% of total imports)
2. Iron, steel: $681.3 million (7.2%)
3. Plastics materials, items made with plastic: $591.6 million (6.2%)
4. Vehicles: $484.5 million (5.1%)
5. Machinery including computers: $425.8 million (4.5%)
6. Electrical machinery, equipment: $357.3 million (3.8%)
7. Animal or vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $334.2 million (3.5%)
8. Cereal/milk preparations: $306.3 million (3.2%)
9. Pharmaceuticals: $273.9 million (2.9%)
10. Dairy, eggs, honey: $248.4 million (2.6%)

Yemen’s top 10 imports accounted for over half (53.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported plastics, both as materials and items made from plastic, posted the strongest increase among Yemen’s top 10 import categories thanks to its 116% advance over the 5-year period starting in 2017.

In second place were cereal or milk preparations (up 102.3%) trailed by machinery including computers (up 68.8%), iron and steel (up 61.7%), then dairy produce, eggs and honey (up 60.3%).

Yemen’s imports of pharmaceutical products was the lone decliner dragged down by a -12.1% reduction.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Yemen’s Imports by Type of Cereals

In 2021, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

1. Wheat: US$835.8 million (up 36.8%)
2. Rice: $358.6 million (up 29.9%)
3. Corn: $167.7 million (up 71%)
4. Buckwheat, millet, canary seed: $1.1 million (down -46.3%)
5. Sorghum grain: $37,000 (up 311.1%)

Among these import subcategories, imports of sorghum grain (up 311.1%), corn (up 71%) and wheat (up 36.8%), grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported cereals among Yemeni businesses and consumers.

Yemen’s Imports by Types Iron or Steel

In 2021, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of products pertinent to iron or steel.

1. Iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods: US$548.8 million (up 72.2%)
2. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $42.9 million (up 15.1%)
3. Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections: $26.7 million (up 56%)
4. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $22.1 million (up 159.4%)
5. Iron or non-alloy steel wire: $18 million (up 112.9%)
6. Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $9.1 million (down -33.5%)
7. Flat-rolled other alloy steel products: $5.9 million (down -31.5%)
8. Alloy steel bars, rods: $2.2 million (up 9.3%)
9. Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $2.1 million (up 65.8%)
10. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $1.6 million (down -16.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemen increased its import purchases from 2017 to 2021 at the fastest rate for hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 159.4%), iron or non-alloy steel wire (up 112.9%), then iron or non-alloy steel bars and rods (up 72.2%).

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of iron or steel imports among Yemeni businesses and consumers.

Yemen’s Imports by Type of Plastics

In 2021, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of plastics-related products either as materials or items made with plastic.

1. Plastic packing goods, lids, caps: US$118.6 million (up 112.2%)
2. Ethylene polymers: $102.5 million (up 196.3%)
3. Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings: $68.8 million (up 245.2%)
4. Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips: $49.4 million (up 583%)
5. Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry: $39.8 million (up 49.8%)
6. Polyacetal/ether/carbonates: $38.7 million (up 42.9%)
7. Miscellaneous plastic items: $37.9 million (up 42.4%)
8. Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips: $27.4 million (up 140.7%)
9. Propylene/olefin polymers: $23.6 million (up 237.9%)
10. Vinyl chloride polymers: $22.3 million (up 68.2%)

Among these import subcategories, imports of plastic plates, sheets, film, tape and strips (up 583%), plastic tubes, pipes and fittings (up 245.2%), then propylene or olefin polymers (up 237.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of plastics-related imports among Yemeni businesses and consumers.

Yemen’s Imports by Vehicle Type

In 2021, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles-related imports.

1. Cars: US$254.2 million (up 95.1%)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $103.9 million (up 129.8%)
3. Motorcycles: $52.5 million (up 118.3%)
4. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $29.1 million (up 120%)
5. Trucks: $19.1 million (down -78.1%)
6. Tractors: $9.6 million (down -36.7%)
7. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $7.4 million (up 56.7%)
8. Public-transport vehicles: $3 million (up 72.1%)
9. Trailers: $2.9 million (down -67%)
10. Wheelchairs: $1.5 million (up 275.2%)

Among these import subcategories, four grew in value by triple-digits from 2017 to 2021.

These were wheelchairs (up 275.2%), automobile parts or accessories (up 129.8%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 120%), then motorcycles (up 120%).

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Yemeni businesses and consumers.
 

See also Yemen’s Top 10 Exports, Saudi Arabia’s Top 10 Exports, Oman’s Top 10 Exports and Crude Oil Exports by Country

Research Sources:

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on November 8, 2022

Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on November 8, 2022

Wikipedia, Category: Companies of Yemen by industry. Accessed on November 8, 2022

Wikipedia, Yemen. Accessed on November 8, 2022