Updated Monthly. May 2026.

China, Australia & the MENA Trade Corridor

Key statistics on the forces reshaping trade between Chinese manufacturing, Gulf construction demand, and Australian agricultural exports. Every number sourced. No projections pulled from thin air.

Live Data · UN Comtrade API

China-MENA Commodity Flows

Real-time trade values for key construction commodities. Data sourced from the UN Comtrade API and updated weekly. All values in USD.

China to UAE · HS 6907 (Ceramic Tiles)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

China to Saudi Arabia · HS 6907 (Ceramic Tiles)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

China to UAE · HS 7213 (Steel Rebar)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

China to Saudi Arabia · HS 7213 (Steel Rebar)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

China to UAE · HS 2523 (Cement)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

China to Saudi Arabia · HS 2523 (Cement)

Source: UN Comtrade · --

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Cement figures reflect packaged cement (HS 2523) only. Bulk cement shipments are classified separately under different HS codes and represent significantly larger volumes.

Section 1

The GCC Construction Boom

USD 175B

The GCC construction market was valued at USD 175 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 182 billion in 2026, growing to USD 222 billion by 2031.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

USD 3T+

The GCC has over USD 3 trillion in active and planned construction projects as of January 2026.

Source: IMARC Group, 2026

45-51%

Saudi Arabia accounts for 45 to 51% of all GCC construction activity, driven by Vision 2030 mega-projects.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

USD 196B

Saudi contract awards reached USD 196 billion in 2025, up 20% year on year.

Source: IMARC Group, 2026

USD 142B

Saudi Arabia's construction market alone is projected at USD 142 billion in 2026, reaching USD 186 billion by 2031.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

Section 2

China's Dominance as Supplier

USD 135B+

China held more than USD 135 billion in construction service contracts with GCC countries between 2005 and 2024.

Source: Brandeis Crown Center, November 2025

12 of 22

By 2023, China ranked first or second in export market share in 12 out of 22 MENA countries.

Source: Brandeis Crown Center, November 2025

#1 Exporter

China was the world's #1 exporter of cement, concrete, gypsum, asphalt, and mineral building materials in 2024.

Source: Trade Map / Statista, July 2025

200,000 sqm

China Harbour Engineering opened a 200,000 sqm modular construction facility in Riyadh in 2025 to serve Vision 2030 housing projects.

Source: IMARC Group, 2026

Section 3

Steel

14M Tons

China exported approximately 14 million tons of steel to GCC countries in 2025.

Source: Mesteel / General Administration of Customs, May 2026

34.2M Tons

Chinese finished steel exports totalled 34.2 million tons in the first four months of 2026, even after a 9.7% YoY decline from record 2025 levels due to new export licensing rules.

Source: Mesteel, May 2026

Section 4

Cement

115.86M Tons

The GCC cement market is estimated at 115.86 million tons in 2026, growing to 141.67 million tons by 2031.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026

USD 9.1B

The GCC cement market is valued at USD 9.1 billion in 2026, projected to reach USD 15.8 billion by 2036 at a 5.7% CAGR.

Source: Future Market Insights, 2026

51%+

Saudi Arabia consumes over 51% of all GCC cement output, driven by NEOM, Riyadh Metro, and King Salman Park.

Source: Future Market Insights, 2026

Section 5

Ceramic Tiles

USD 9.68B

The GCC ceramic tiles market was valued at USD 9.68 billion in 2023 and is growing at 7.3% CAGR through 2030.

Source: Grand View Research

USD 1.77B

The Saudi Arabia ceramic tiles market alone reached USD 1.77 billion in 2025, forecast to hit USD 2.54 billion by 2030.

Source: Mordor Intelligence, August 2025

USD 16.78B

The broader Middle East & Africa ceramic tiles market was valued at USD 16.78 billion in 2025, projected at USD 17.45 billion in 2026.

Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2025

Top 8 Buyers

Saudi Arabia and UAE are top 8 global buyers of Chinese ceramic tiles, with China the dominant import source for mid-market supply.

Source: George Ceramic / IndexBox, 2025

Section 6

Australia–MENA Trade

A$30B+

Australia's total two-way trade with the GCC and broader Middle East now exceeds A$30 billion per year, making it one of the most important growth corridors for Australian exporters.

Source: Australia-Saudi Business Forum, March 2026

A$12.7B

Australia's two-way trade with the UAE alone reached A$12.7 billion in 2024-25, making it Australia's largest trading partner in the region.

Source: ASBF, March 2026

A$2.8B

Australia's two-way trade with Saudi Arabia reached A$2.8 billion in 2024-25, with exports including agricultural products, dairy, grains, pharmaceuticals, and education services.

Source: ASBF, March 2026

Tariffs Eliminated

The Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force on 1 October 2025, eliminates tariffs on frozen beef, sheep meat, canola, dairy, and dried legumes.

Source: DFAT, 2025

A$71.6B

In 2023-24, the total value of Australia's agricultural exports was A$71.6 billion, approximately 11% of total goods and services exports. China was the largest market at 22.6%.

Source: DFAT / ABARES, 2025

70%

70% of Australia's agricultural production by volume is exported, covering wheat, beef, sheep meat, dairy, wool, and pulses.

Source: OECD, October 2025

A$190B by 2029

The GCC food and beverage industry is projected to reach A$190 billion by 2029, growing at 6.1% annually, and the region is heavily import-dependent due to climate constraints.

Source: Investment NSW, 2024

Section 7

Australian Baby Formula & Premium Food

USD 1.29B

The GCC baby food and infant formula market was valued at USD 1.29 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.01 billion by 2033, growing at a 4.81% CAGR.

Source: IMARC Group, 2025

USD 2.32B

A separate estimate puts the GCC baby formula market at USD 2.32 billion in 2024, forecast to reach USD 4.21 billion by 2034 at a 6.9% CAGR.

Source: Expert Market Research, 2025

Post-2008 Shift

Australian infant formula brands including Bellamy's Organic and a2 Platinum established China as their primary export market following the 2008 melamine contamination scandal, which permanently shifted Chinese consumer trust toward foreign formula.

Source: Wikipedia / FT

Halal Certified

Bellamy's formula products are certified Halal by the Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV), positioning Australian organic formula directly for GCC consumer requirements.

Source: Bellamy's / Wikipedia

Saudi Demand

Saudi Arabia is expected to dominate GCC baby formula demand, driven by a rapidly growing retail sector, rising birth rates, and growing western consumer influence.

Source: Expert Market Research, 2025

Halal & Organic Trend

The advent of halal-certified and organic baby foods is a key growth trend reshaping GCC infant nutrition imports.

Source: IMARC Group, 2025

Section 8

Why This Corridor Matters

The MENA region sits at the intersection of two powerful trade flows. Chinese manufacturing scale meeting Gulf construction demand, and Australian agricultural trust meeting Gulf food security needs. Both corridors are growing simultaneously, underpinned by sovereign-level infrastructure programs and structural import dependency. For trade intelligence, deal origination, and sourcing operators working this corridor, the timing has rarely been better.

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