This list reveals the top 10 vitamins importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world vitamins imports totaled US$8.2 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $225.2 million worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $59.2 million
2. Egypt: $28 million
3. Nigeria: $27.4 million
4. Algeria: $24.2 million
5. Morocco: $16.2 million
6. Tunisia: $9.6 million
7. Namibia: $7.3 million
8. Malawi: $6 million
9. Ethiopia: $4.4 million
10. Kenya: $4.3 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $2.1 billion worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. Singapore: $287.7 million
2. Japan: $263.8 million
3. China: $261.4 million
4. India: $180.7 million
5. South Korea: $171.9 million
6. Indonesia: $167.6 million
7. Thailand: $164.3 million
8. Vietnam: $161.5 million
9. Turkey: $101.2 million
10. Philippines: $86.2 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $2.9 billion worth of vitamins led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $592 million
2. Netherlands: $399.9 million
3. France: $362 million
4. Belgium: $285.6 million
5. Spain: $206.3 million
6. United Kingdom: $185.1 million
7. Italy: $163.6 million
8. Poland: $149.6 million
9. Ireland: $141.9 million
10. Denmark: $99.5 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $524.6 million worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $216.4 million
2. Colombia: $52.4 million
3. Argentina: $45.3 million
4. Guatemala: $39 million
5. Chile: $35.8 million
6. Peru: $34.1 million
7. Ecuador: $22.9 million
8. Panama: $14 million
9. Costa Rica: $8.9 million
10. Dominican Republic: $8.7 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $231.9 million worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. Iran: $105.1 million
2. United Arab Emirates: $36.7 million
3. Israel: $23.6 million
4. Saudi Arabia: $21.2 million
5. Kuwait: $14 million
6. Jordan: $12.8 million
7. Iraq: $6.5 million
8. Syrian Arab Republic: $3.6 million
9. Oman: $2.6 million
10. Qatar: $2.4 million
North American Importers
North America imported $1.7 billion worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. United States: $1.3 billion
2. Canada: $248.9 million
3. Mexico: $146 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $119.5 million worth of vitamins led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $88.8 million
2. New Zealand: $29.4 million
3. Fiji: $687,000
4. Papua New Guinea: $249,000
5. French Polynesia: $129,000
6. Palau: $117,000
7. New Caledonia: $33,000
8. Solomon Islands: $21,000
9. Cook Islands: $7,000
10. Samoa: $4,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing vitamins importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported vitamins was 26.5%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Vitamins Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Vitamins Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
