Pearls trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in pearls was worth $1.08 billion in 2024, about 1.6 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 77% since 2017, and down 14% 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 | $1.08B | 1.6K t |
| 2023 | $1.25B | 2.5K t |
| 2022 | $846.0M | 2.7K t |
| 2021 | $797.1M | 2.0K t |
| 2020 | $497.7M | 972 t |
| 2019 | $804.0M | 859 t |
| 2018 | $1.13B | 2.9K t |
| 2017 | $4.61B | 1.2K t |
Top pearls exporting countries
Exports are led by Japan (31%), Australia (15%) and Indonesia (11%). 102 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 57%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $332.2M | 31% |
| Australia | $158.9M | 15% |
| Indonesia | $123.0M | 11% |
| French Polynesia | $93.4M | 8.7% |
| Hong Kong | $80.4M | 7.5% |
| China | $70.3M | 6.5% |
| United States | $52.5M | 4.9% |
| Philippines | $36.4M | 3.4% |
| Thailand | $31.2M | 2.9% |
| Switzerland | $14.2M | 1.3% |
| Myanmar | $13.6M | 1.3% |
| France | $11.5M | 1.1% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Hong Kong is the biggest buyer with 40% of world imports, ahead of Japan and the United States. Demand is concentrated: the top three take 74% across 145 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | $428.3M | 40% |
| Japan | $292.3M | 27% |
| United States | $78.1M | 7.3% |
| Thailand | $53.2M | 4.9% |
| China | $37.5M | 3.5% |
| Australia | $27.0M | 2.5% |
| India | $25.2M | 2.3% |
| Italy | $24.6M | 2.3% |
| Switzerland | $18.7M | 1.7% |
| France | $11.0M | 1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $7.8M | 0.7% |
| Qatar | $7.5M | 0.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $655.99 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Australia averaged $25,067.32 per kg and China $51.18 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?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
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 7101: Pearls; natural or cultured, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set; pearls, natural or cultured, temporarily strung for the convenience of transport. HS 7101 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most pearls?
Japan exported $332.2 million in 2024, 31% of the world total, followed by Australia (15%) and Indonesia (11%). In all, 102 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most pearls?
Hong Kong imported $428.3 million in 2024, 40% of world imports, ahead of Japan (27%) and the United States (7%). The top three importers together take 74%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in pearls?
It was worth $1.08 billion in 2024, about 1.6 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 77% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $4.61 billion. 102 countries reported exports and 145 reported imports.
What is the average price of pearls per kg?
The world average declared value was about $655.99 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Australia averaged $25,067.32 per kg and China $51.18 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 pearls?
The HS code for pearls is heading 7101, in chapter 71 (natural, cultured pearls; precious, semi-precious stones; precious metals, metals clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 7101 page.
How can I find pearls buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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