Magnetic stripe cards trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in magnetic stripe cards was worth $285.7 million in 2024, about 9.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 15% since 2017, and down 8% 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 | $285.7M | 9.8K t |
| 2023 | $309.7M | 10.5K t |
| 2022 | $323.0M | 9.7K t |
| 2021 | $291.1M | 8.0K t |
| 2020 | $267.0M | 8.2K t |
| 2019 | $343.1M | 13.0K t |
| 2018 | $390.9M | 9.9K t |
| 2017 | $336.1M | 18.6K t |
Top magnetic stripe cards exporting countries
Exports are led by China (17%), the United States (14%) and the United Kingdom (9%). 147 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 40%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $47.9M | 17% |
| United States | $38.9M | 14% |
| United Kingdom | $26.8M | 9.4% |
| France | $26.0M | 9.1% |
| Germany | $25.0M | 8.8% |
| Japan | $21.8M | 7.6% |
| Italy | $10.6M | 3.7% |
| Austria | $9.4M | 3.3% |
| Mexico | $8.0M | 2.8% |
| Poland | $7.9M | 2.8% |
| Spain | $4.7M | 1.6% |
| Taiwan | $4.6M | 1.6% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Canada is the biggest buyer with 9% of world imports, ahead of the United States and France. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 24% across 201 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $25.0M | 8.7% |
| United States | $22.4M | 7.8% |
| France | $21.1M | 7.4% |
| Philippines | $20.2M | 7.1% |
| Netherlands | $14.0M | 4.9% |
| Czech Republic | $12.8M | 4.5% |
| Australia | $9.6M | 3.3% |
| Germany | $8.9M | 3.1% |
| Switzerland | $8.8M | 3.1% |
| Tunisia | $8.5M | 3% |
| Sweden | $6.8M | 2.4% |
| Greece | $6.6M | 2.3% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $29.31 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $211.97 per kg and Austria $11.32 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 Magnetic stripe cards (HS 8523.21) 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 8523.21: Magnetic media: cards incorporating a magnetic stripe, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37. HS 8523 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most magnetic stripe cards?
China exported $47.9 million in 2024, 17% of the world total, followed by the United States (14%) and the United Kingdom (9%). In all, 147 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most magnetic stripe cards?
Canada imported $25.0 million in 2024, 9% of world imports, ahead of the United States (8%) and France (7%). The top three importers together take 24%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in magnetic stripe cards?
It was worth $285.7 million in 2024, about 9.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 15% since 2017. The peak year was 2018 at $390.9 million. 147 countries reported exports and 201 reported imports.
What is the average price of magnetic stripe cards per kg?
The world average declared value was about $29.31 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $211.97 per kg and Austria $11.32 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for magnetic stripe cards?
The HS code for magnetic stripe cards is subheading 8523.21, in chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 8523 page.
How can I find magnetic stripe cards buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading magnetic stripe cards, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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.