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The twenty imports Kuwait is best placed to replace.

Kuwait imported USD 30bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 7.9bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 2.2bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
210products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
115products Kuwait already exports well
463product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Kuwait already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Kuwait would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Kuwait does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 76%, 50 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material...
    Exports of this lineUSD 13m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 36m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 231m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 231mup 14% on 2022
  2. 2

    Wrist-watches: (not electrically operated), automatic winding, whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility...HS 910121

    Comes fromSwitzerland 95%, 49 source countries
    Nearest export strengthClocks: (excluding those with watch movements and instrument panel... (exports USD 10m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 35m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 87m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); Switzerland supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 87mup 45% on 2022
  3. 3

    T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of cotton, knitted or crochetedHS 610910

    Comes fromChina 72%, 113 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCoats: women's or girls' overcoats, car-coats, capes, anoraks... (exports USD 16m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 42m
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 311m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 72 per cent (2).

    USD 311mup 42% on 2022
  4. 4

    Pebbles, gravel, broken or crushed stone: of a kind commonly used for concrete aggregates, for road metalling or for...HS 251710

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 99%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSulphur of all kinds: other than sublimed, precipitated and... (exports USD 215m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 155m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 11 per cent (2); United Arab Emirates supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 155mdown 16% on 2022
  5. 5

    Meat preparations: of the poultry of heading no. 0105, (i.e. of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus)HS 160232

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 65%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMeat preparations: of meat, meat offal or the blood of any animal... (exports USD 16m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 17m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 20m
    Countries that export it well27

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 109m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); United Arab Emirates supplies 65 per cent (2).

    USD 109mup 36% on 2022
  6. 6

    Ferrous products: obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, in lumps, pellets or similar formsHS 720310

    Comes fromQatar 59%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 91m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 107m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); Qatar supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 107mdown 61% on 2022
  7. 7

    Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)HS 252310

    Comes fromIran 99%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSulphur of all kinds: other than sublimed, precipitated and... (exports USD 215m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 4k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 53m
    Countries that export it well36

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 78m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Iran supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 78mdown 53% on 2022
  8. 8

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromTurkey 28%, 22 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 4m
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 191m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3).

    USD 191mdown 40% on 2022
  9. 9

    Aircraft and spacecraft: parts thereof n.e.c. in chapter 88HS 880790

    Comes fromFrance 52%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight... (exports USD 610m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 129m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 130m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); France supplies 52 per cent (1).

    USD 130mup 134% on 2022
  10. 10

    Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty...HS 190590

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 39%, 81 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: pasta, containing eggs, uncooked, not stuffed or... (exports USD 15m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 15m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 136m
    Countries that export it well47

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 127m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3).

    USD 127mup 10% on 2022
  11. 11

    Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10HS 210690

    Comes fromBahrain 12%, 99 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIce cream and other edible ice: whether or not containing cocoa (exports USD 20m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well51

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 116m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3).

    USD 116mdown 33% on 2022
  12. 12

    Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavouredHS 220210

    Comes fromSwitzerland 39%, 64 source countries
    Nearest export strengthOxygen
    Exports of this lineUSD 21m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 41m
    Countries that export it well60

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 112m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3).

    USD 112mup 8% on 2022
  13. 13

    Copper: refined, unwrought, cathodes and sections of cathodesHS 740311

    Comes fromRepublic of the Congo 79%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 8k
    Countries that export it well22

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 81m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); Republic of the Congo supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 81mfrom USD 9k in 2022
  14. 14

    Waters: mineral and aerated, including natural or artificial, (not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter...HS 220110

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 43%, 36 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 410k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 68m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); United Arab Emirates supplies 43 per cent (1).

    USD 68mup 131% on 2022
  15. 15

    Tissue, towel, napkin stock or similar: for household or sanitary use, cellulose, wadding webs of cellulose fibres, in...HS 480300

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 90%, 28 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaper and paperboard: uncoated, fluting paper other than... (exports USD 15m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 427k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 60m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (2); United Arab Emirates supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 60mup 51% on 2022
  16. 16

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721310

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 99%, 5 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 91m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 50k
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 59m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 59mup 116% on 2022
  17. 17

    Paints and varnishes: based on polymers n.e.c. in heading no. 3208, dispersed or dissolved in a non-aqueous mediumHS 320890

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 87%, 31 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSolvents and thinners: organic composite solvents and thinners...
    Exports of this lineUSD 11m
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 53m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); United Arab Emirates supplies 87 per cent (2).

    USD 53mup 8% on 2022
  18. 18

    Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of...HS 720719

    Comes fromIran 100%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 91m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 22k
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 49m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2); Iran supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 49mfrom USD 22k in 2022
  19. 19

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves...HS 721420

    Comes fromOman 98%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFerrous waste and scrap: n.e.c. in heading no. 7204 (exports USD 91m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 5k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 30m, top 36 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); Oman supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 30mdown 35% on 2022
  20. 20

    Food preparations: pasta, uncooked (excluding that containing eggs), not stuffed or otherwise preparedHS 190219

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 75%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: pasta, containing eggs, uncooked, not stuffed or... (exports USD 15m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 13m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 42 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Kuwait's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 75 per cent (2).

    USD 26mdown 3% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Kuwait already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston... imports USD 1.7bn, exports USD 515m, top source Japan 34%
  • Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, for... imports USD 333m, exports USD 156m, top source United States 29%
  • Catalysts, supported: reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic... imports USD 136m, exports USD 30m, top source United States 61%
  • Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including... imports USD 135m, exports USD 50m, top source Japan 54%
  • Cast iron: tubes, pipes and hollow profiles imports USD 80m, exports USD 8m, top source United Arab Emirates 69%
  • Catalysts, supported: reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic... imports USD 51m, exports USD 7m, top source United States 63%
  • Aeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight exceeding... imports USD 651m, exports USD 610m, top source India 81%
  • Barium sulphate (barytes): natural imports USD 23m, exports USD 4m, top source Laos 43%
  • Juices: mixtures of fruits or vegetables (but not nut juice), unfermented, not... imports USD 39m, exports USD 25m, top source Saudi Arabia 57%
  • Meat preparations: of meat, meat offal or the blood of any animal, n.e.c. in... imports USD 27m, exports USD 16m, top source United Arab Emirates 76%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 463 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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