Expandable polystyrene beads trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in expandable polystyrene beads was worth $3.97 billion in 2024, about 2.29 million tonnes. That is a fall of 2% since 2017, and down 6% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3.97B | 2.29M t |
| 2023 | $4.24B | 2.41M t |
| 2022 | $6.05B | 2.62M t |
| 2021 | $5.58B | 2.78M t |
| 2020 | $3.11B | 2.51M t |
| 2019 | $3.65B | 2.52M t |
| 2018 | $4.48B | 2.52M t |
| 2017 | $4.07B | 2.49M t |
Top expandable polystyrene beads exporting countries
Exports are led by Germany (13%), China (13%) and the Netherlands (10%). 99 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 35%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $504.7M | 13% |
| China | $498.6M | 13% |
| Netherlands | $397.8M | 10% |
| Taiwan | $387.2M | 9.8% |
| Austria | $271.8M | 6.9% |
| Turkey | $216.1M | 5.5% |
| Mexico | $182.2M | 4.6% |
| United States | $163.9M | 4.1% |
| Belgium | $158.5M | 4% |
| Canada | $150.6M | 3.8% |
| France | $133.8M | 3.4% |
| Poland | $113.3M | 2.9% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Poland is the biggest buyer with 12% of world imports, ahead of the United States and Germany. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 26% across 173 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | $467.1M | 12% |
| United States | $381.4M | 9.6% |
| Germany | $202.6M | 5.1% |
| Italy | $181.9M | 4.6% |
| France | $160.6M | 4.1% |
| Mexico | $148.1M | 3.7% |
| United Kingdom | $128.5M | 3.2% |
| Vietnam | $112.2M | 2.8% |
| Romania | $98.8M | 2.5% |
| Spain | $92.7M | 2.3% |
| Norway | $83.7M | 2.1% |
| Brazil | $71.4M | 1.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.73 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United States averaged $2.11 per kg and China $1.42 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Expandable polystyrene beads (HS 3903.11) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 3903.11: Styrene polymers: expansible polystyrene, in primary forms. HS 3903 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most expandable polystyrene beads?
Germany exported $504.7 million in 2024, 13% of the world total, followed by China (13%) and the Netherlands (10%). In all, 99 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most expandable polystyrene beads?
Poland imported $467.1 million in 2024, 12% of world imports, ahead of the United States (10%) and Germany (5%). The top three importers together take 26%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in expandable polystyrene beads?
It was worth $3.97 billion in 2024, about 2.29 million tonnes. That is a fall of 2% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $6.05 billion. 99 countries reported exports and 173 reported imports.
What is the average price of expandable polystyrene beads per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.73 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United States averaged $2.11 per kg and China $1.42 per kg, so grade and origin matter. Read it as a benchmark: it blends all grades, origins and contract terms.
What is the HS code for expandable polystyrene beads?
The HS code for expandable polystyrene beads is subheading 3903.11, in chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 3903 page.
How can I find expandable polystyrene beads buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show expandable polystyrene beads buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.