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Yemen’s Top 10 Imports

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Yemen’s imports totaled US$8.6 billion in 2023.

That calculated dollar amount results from a -19.6% decrease from $10.7 billion 5 years earlier in 2019.

Year over year, the cost of Yemeni imports dropped by -34.5% compared to $13.1 billion starting from 2022.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2023, the Yemeni rial depreciated by -178.4% against the US dollar since 2019 and diluted by -21.5% from 2022 to 2023. Yemen’s devaluing local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive for local Yemeni buyers of imports.

Given Yemen’s population of 34.1 million people, its total $8.6 billion in 2023 imports translates to roughly $250 in yearly product demand from every person in the country. That per-capita amount lags the average $270 one year earlier for 2022.

Yemen’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Yemen’s import purchases during 2023. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Yemen.

  1. Cereals: US$1.2 billion (14.1% of total imports)
  2. Iron, steel: $575.8 million (6.7%)
  3. Sugar, sugar confectionery: $496.3 million (5.8%)
  4. Vehicles: $469.9 million (5.5%)
  5. Electrical machinery, equipment: $401.7 million (4.7%)
  6. Machinery including computers: $381.8 million (4.5%)
  7. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $340.5 million (4%)
  8. Cereal/milk preparations: $286.4 million (3.3%)
  9. Plastics, plastic articles: $273 million (3.2%)
  10. Footwear: $240.8 million (2.8%)

Yemen’s top 10 import product categories generated over half (54.5%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Purchases of sugar including sugar confectionery posted the largest increase among Yemen’s top 10 import categories, thanks to its 60.9% advance over the 5-year period starting in 2019.

Yemen’s imports of plastics, both as materials and items made from plastic, was the severest declining product category via a -46.7% drop from 2022 to 2023.

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 2023, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

  1. Wheat: US$558.9 million (down -18.6% from 2019)
  2. Rice: $464.1 million (up 15.4%)
  3. Corn: $183.8 million (up 68%)
  4. Millet, canary seed: $761,000 (down -66.2%)
  5. Barley: $217,000 (down 0%)
  6. Sorghum grain: $203,000 (up 31%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of corn (up 68%), sorghum grain (up 31%) and rice (up 15.4%) grew from 2019 to 2023.

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 2023, 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$449.5 million (up 0.02% from 2019)
  2. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $38.9 million (down -25.7%)
  3. Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections: $34.1 million (up 9.1%)
  4. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $26.4 million (down -12.2%)
  5. Iron or non-alloy steel wire: $11.2 million (down -51.6%)
  6. Coiled iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods: $5.2 million (2019 data unavailable)
  7. Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $4 million (down -73.3%)
  8. Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $1.6 million (up 202.3%)
  9. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $1.5 million (up 13.6%)
  10. Flat-rolled other alloy steel products: $1.3 million (down -61.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of flat-rolled stainless steel items (up 202.3%), plated or coated flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 13.6%) and iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes and sections (up 9.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2023.

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 of Sugar

In 2023, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of sugar including sugar confectionery.

  1. Sugar (cane or beet): US$450.5 million (up 97.9% from 2019)
  2. Sugar confectionery (no cocoa): $41.9 million (down -43.6%)
  3. Solid-form sugars, fructose, glucose, lactose: $3.9 million (down -38.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of cane or beet sugar was the lone gainer from 2019 to 2023 recording a 97.9% advance.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of sugar including sugar confectionery imported by Yemeni businesses and consumers.

Yemen’s Imports by Vehicle Type

In 2023, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles-related imports.

  1. Cars: US$235.9 million (down -39.3% from 2019)
  2. Automobile parts/accessories: $91 million (up 26%)
  3. Motorcycles: $51.2 million (up 10.9%)
  4. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $35.6 million (up 250.7%)
  5. Trucks: $31.8 million (down -70.8%)
  6. Tractors: $10.3 million (down -54.7%)
  7. Public-transport vehicles: $5.9 million (down -51.1%)
  8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $4.5 million (down -24.6%)
  9. Trailers: $1.9 million (down -90.9%)
  10. Special purpose vehicles: $969,000 (down -77.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of motorcycle parts or accessories (up 250.7%), automobile parts or accessories (up 26%) and motorcycles (up 10.9%) grew from 2019 to 2023.

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 20, 2024

Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on November 20, 2024

Wikipedia, Category: Companies of Yemen by industry. Accessed on November 20, 2024

Wikipedia, Yemen. Accessed on November 20, 2024