Skip links

World's Top Exports

Trade metrics that inspire global thinking

Header Right

Yemen’s Top 10 Imports

by

Yemeni flag
by Pixabay.com
Yemen’s imports totaled US$9 billion in 2022.

That estimated dollar amount results from a 2.5% increase from $8.76 billion five years earlier in 2018.

Year over year, the cost of Yemeni imports fell by -24.1% compared to $11.8 billion for 2021.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2022, the Yemeni rial depreciated by -418.5% against the US dollar since 2018 and diluted by -7.6% from 2021 to 2022. Yemen’s devaluing local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive for Yemen’s imports buyers.

Focusing on the Middle East geography, 33.6% of Yemen’s total spending on imports was for products originating from other Mideast trade partners. That percentage is a reduction from 36.8% for 2021.

Given Yemen’s population of 33.3 million people, its total $9 billion in 2022 imports translates to roughly $270 in yearly product demand from every person in the country. That per-capita amount exceeds the average $235 one year earlier for 2021.

Yemen’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Yemen’s import purchases during 2022. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Yemen.

  1. Cereals: US$1.1 billion (17% of total imports)
  2. Mineral fuels including oil: $781.1 million (12.1%)
  3. Vehicles: $372.6 million (5.8%)
  4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $287.6 million (4.5%)
  5. Sugar, sugar confectionery: $230 million (3.6%)
  6. Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: $223.3 million (3.5%)
  7. Plastics, plastic articles: $211.3 million (3.3%)
  8. Machinery including computers: $204.1 million (3.2%)
  9. Cereal/milk preparations: $198.5 million (3.1%)
  10. Iron, steel: $191.5 million (3%)

Yemen’s top 10 imports generated almost three-fifths (58.9%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Imported footwear posted the strongest increase among Yemen’s top 10 import categories, thanks to its 62.5% advance over the 5-year period starting in 2018.

In second place were cereal or milk preparations (up 55.3%) trailed by cereals (up 45.4%) then knitted or crocheted clothing and accessories (up 36.2%).

Yemen’s imports of plastics, both as materials and items made from plastic, was the lone declining product category from 2021 to 2022.

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 2022, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

  1. Wheat: US$1 billion (up 59.3% from 2018)
  2. Rice: $435.3 million (up 18.9%)
  3. Corn: $171.2 million (up 51.2%)
  4. Sorghum grain: $10.3 million (up 10,456%)
  5. Buckwheat, millet, canary seed: $1.5 million (down -56.4%)

Among these import subcategories, imports of sorghum grain (up 10,456%), wheat (up 59.3%) and corn (up 51.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2022.

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 2022, 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$498.1 million (up 17.3% from 2018)
  2. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $51.2 million (down -9.4%)
  3. Iron or non-alloy steel wire: $44.6 million (up 474.6%)
  4. Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections: $39.4 million (up 23.9%)
  5. Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $39.4 million (up 333.7%)
  6. Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $7.6 million (down -49.7%)
  7. Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $3 million (up 90.8%)
  8. Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $2.3 million (up 430.1%)
  9. Other flat-rolled stainless steel or iron items: $1.7 million (down -58.5%)
  10. Flat-rolled stainless steel items (thin): $1.3 million (up 18514.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemen increased its import purchases from 2018 to 2022 at the fastest rate for thin flat-rolled stainless steel items (up 18,514%), iron or non-alloy steel wire (up 474.6%), then wider flat-rolled stainless steel items (up 430.1%).

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 Machinery Including Computers

In 2022, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

  1. Liquid pumps and elevators: US$45.8 million (up 42.5% from 2018)
  2. Air or vacuum pumps: $28.7 million (up 72.4%)
  3. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $26.7 million (up 331.3%)
  4. Refrigerators, freezers: $25.9 million (up 27.8%)
  5. Clean/sort/grading machines: $24.3 million (up 600.3%)
  6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $23.7 million (up 22.7%)
  7. Rubber/plastic article making machines: $23.6 million (up 165.3%)
  8. Piston engine parts: $23.6 million (up 80.8%)
  9. Air conditioners: $20.3 million (up 30.6%)
  10. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $17 million (up 22.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of cleaning, sorting and grading machines (up 600.3%), dishwashing and other cleaning, drying and filling machines (up 331.3%) and rubber or plastic article making machines (up 165.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2022.

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

Yemen’s Imports by Vehicle Type

In 2022, Yemeni importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles-related imports.

  1. Cars: US$209.1 million (down -14.9% from 2018)
  2. Automobile parts/accessories: $103.5 million (up 138.1%)
  3. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $28.9 million (up 482.6%)
  4. Motorcycles: $28.9 million (up 111.9%)
  5. Trucks: $18.5 million (down -84.2%)
  6. Tractors: $12.5 million (up 15.6%)
  7. Trailers: $5.5 million (down -38.1%)
  8. Public-transport vehicles: $4.6 million (down -38.3%)
  9. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $4.5 million (up 8%)
  10. Special purpose vehicles: $1.7 million (down -80.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Yemeni purchases of motorcycle parts or accessories (up 482.6%), automobile parts or accessories (up 138.1%) and motorcycles (up 111.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2022.

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 October 3, 2023

Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on October 3, 2023

Wikipedia, Category: Companies of Yemen by industry. Accessed on October 3, 2023

Wikipedia, Yemen. Accessed on October 3, 2023