Mechanical pencil trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in mechanical pencil was worth $282.9 million in 2024, about 11.7 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 12% since 2017, and up 5% 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 | $282.9M | 11.7K t |
| 2023 | $269.9M | 10.9K t |
| 2022 | $250.3M | 9.0K t |
| 2021 | $213.8M | 6.7K t |
| 2020 | $195.4M | 9.6K t |
| 2019 | $235.9M | 10.0K t |
| 2018 | $251.0M | 12.5K t |
| 2017 | $251.5M | 9.0K t |
Top mechanical pencil exporting countries
China is the largest exporter with 30% of world exports, followed by Japan and Mexico. The top three supply 62% between them, out of 103 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $84.5M | 30% |
| Japan | $55.0M | 19% |
| Mexico | $35.7M | 13% |
| France | $29.0M | 10% |
| Germany | $24.5M | 8.7% |
| United States | $15.4M | 5.5% |
| Vietnam | $7.1M | 2.5% |
| India | $4.1M | 1.5% |
| Dominican Republic | $3.9M | 1.4% |
| Taiwan | $2.6M | 0.9% |
| Czech Republic | $2.5M | 0.9% |
| Romania | $2.1M | 0.7% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The United States is the biggest buyer with 31% of world imports, ahead of Mexico and Turkey. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 46% across 191 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $87.4M | 31% |
| Mexico | $29.4M | 10% |
| Turkey | $14.1M | 5% |
| South Korea | $12.9M | 4.6% |
| China | $12.3M | 4.4% |
| Germany | $11.7M | 4.1% |
| Japan | $8.6M | 3% |
| France | $7.0M | 2.5% |
| Brazil | $6.1M | 2.1% |
| Canada | $5.5M | 2% |
| India | $5.3M | 1.9% |
| Slovakia | $4.8M | 1.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $24.24 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $69.10 per kg and China $15.28 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 Mechanical pencil (HS 9608.40) 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 9608.40: Pencils: propelling or sliding. HS 9608 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most mechanical pencil?
China exported $84.5 million in 2024, 30% of the world total, followed by Japan (19%) and Mexico (13%). In all, 103 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most mechanical pencil?
The United States imported $87.4 million in 2024, 31% of world imports, ahead of Mexico (10%) and Turkey (5%). The top three importers together take 46%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in mechanical pencil?
It was worth $282.9 million in 2024, about 11.7 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 12% since 2017. 2024 was the highest year since 2017. 103 countries reported exports and 191 reported imports.
What is the average price of mechanical pencil per kg?
The world average declared value was about $24.24 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $69.10 per kg and China $15.28 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 mechanical pencil?
The HS code for mechanical pencil is subheading 9608.40, in chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 9608 page.
How can I find mechanical pencil buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading mechanical pencil, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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