Lithographic printing plates trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in lithographic printing plates was worth $704.9 million in 2024, about 56.1 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 42% since 2017, and up 1% 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 | $704.9M | 56.1K t |
| 2023 | $700.2M | 53.1K t |
| 2022 | $723.7M | 54.8K t |
| 2021 | $729.1M | 56.5K t |
| 2020 | $669.7M | 55.4K t |
| 2019 | $810.5M | 74.9K t |
| 2018 | $922.2M | 87.4K t |
| 2017 | $1.22B | 136.2K t |
Top lithographic printing plates exporting countries
Exports are led by China (20%), Germany (17%) and Switzerland (8%). 121 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 45%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $144.4M | 21% |
| Germany | $116.9M | 17% |
| Switzerland | $55.6M | 7.9% |
| United States | $52.5M | 7.5% |
| Italy | $42.5M | 6% |
| Japan | $27.1M | 3.9% |
| Poland | $23.7M | 3.4% |
| Czech Republic | $20.4M | 2.9% |
| Netherlands | $17.3M | 2.5% |
| Spain | $16.7M | 2.4% |
| United Kingdom | $16.6M | 2.4% |
| Turkey | $15.8M | 2.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Germany is the biggest buyer with 10% of world imports, ahead of India and the United States. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 21% across 193 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $72.9M | 10% |
| India | $42.9M | 6.1% |
| United States | $32.4M | 4.6% |
| France | $30.0M | 4.3% |
| China | $23.8M | 3.4% |
| Italy | $22.6M | 3.2% |
| Russia | $21.8M | 3.1% |
| Poland | $21.3M | 3% |
| Vietnam | $19.7M | 2.8% |
| Austria | $19.3M | 2.7% |
| Netherlands | $18.9M | 2.7% |
| Mexico | $18.4M | 2.6% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $12.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United States averaged $75.92 per kg and China $8.41 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.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Lithographic printing plates (HS 8442.50) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 8442.50: Plates, cylinders and other printing components: lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished). HS 8442 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most lithographic printing plates?
China exported $144.4 million in 2024, 20% of the world total, followed by Germany (17%) and Switzerland (8%). In all, 121 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most lithographic printing plates?
Germany imported $72.9 million in 2024, 10% of world imports, ahead of India (6%) and the United States (5%). The top three importers together take 21%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in lithographic printing plates?
It was worth $704.9 million in 2024, about 56.1 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 42% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $1.22 billion. 121 countries reported exports and 193 reported imports.
What is the average price of lithographic printing plates per kg?
The world average declared value was about $12.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, the United States averaged $75.92 per kg and China $8.41 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for lithographic printing plates?
The HS code for lithographic printing plates is subheading 8442.50, in chapter 84 (machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 8442 page.
How can I find lithographic printing plates 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 lithographic printing plates 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.