Optical polarising material trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in optical polarising material was worth $4.71 billion in 2024, about 83.3 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 31% since 2017, and up 0% 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 | $4.71B | 83.3K t |
| 2023 | $4.69B | 81.0K t |
| 2022 | $6.41B | 102.2K t |
| 2021 | $8.03B | 135.2K t |
| 2020 | $7.34B | 128.9K t |
| 2019 | $6.89B | 127.7K t |
| 2018 | $7.04B | 132.3K t |
| 2017 | $6.81B | 134.8K t |
Top optical polarising material exporting countries
Exports are led by South Korea (35%), Japan (35%) and Taiwan (16%). 68 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 87%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $1.67B | 35% |
| Japan | $1.67B | 35% |
| Taiwan | $760.2M | 16% |
| China | $352.8M | 7.5% |
| United States | $211.3M | 4.5% |
| Vietnam | $13.8M | 0.3% |
| Hong Kong | $11.6M | 0.3% |
| Germany | $11.3M | 0.2% |
| Netherlands | $2.3M | 0.1% |
| Egypt | $1.8M | 0% |
| Malaysia | $1.8M | 0% |
| Singapore | $1.6M | 0% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 61% of world imports, ahead of Taiwan and Hong Kong. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 77% across 139 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $2.86B | 61% |
| Taiwan | $396.0M | 8.4% |
| Hong Kong | $369.3M | 7.8% |
| Vietnam | $368.9M | 7.8% |
| South Korea | $354.0M | 7.5% |
| Japan | $173.0M | 3.7% |
| Mexico | $40.5M | 0.9% |
| United States | $35.8M | 0.8% |
| India | $19.4M | 0.4% |
| Germany | $14.1M | 0.3% |
| Italy | $9.2M | 0.2% |
| Malaysia | $7.6M | 0.2% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $56.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $159.88 per kg and Germany $16.54 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 Optical polarising material (HS 9001.20) 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 9001.20: Optical elements: polarising material, sheets and plates thereof. HS 9001 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most optical polarising material?
South Korea exported $1.67 billion in 2024, 35% of the world total, followed by Japan (35%) and Taiwan (16%). In all, 68 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most optical polarising material?
China imported $2.86 billion in 2024, 61% of world imports, ahead of Taiwan (8%) and Hong Kong (8%). The top three importers together take 77%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in optical polarising material?
It was worth $4.71 billion in 2024, about 83.3 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 31% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $8.03 billion. 68 countries reported exports and 139 reported imports.
What is the average price of optical polarising material per kg?
The world average declared value was about $56.57 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $159.88 per kg and Germany $16.54 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 optical polarising material?
The HS code for optical polarising material is subheading 9001.20, in chapter 90 (optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 9001 page.
How can I find optical polarising material 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 optical polarising material 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.