Pencil lead trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in pencil lead was worth $86.1 million in 2024, about 11.9 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 10% 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 | $86.1M | 11.9K t |
| 2023 | $99.6M | 14.5K t |
| 2022 | $98.0M | 15.1K t |
| 2021 | $91.4M | 9.6K t |
| 2020 | $84.6M | 8.7K t |
| 2019 | $98.5M | 12.1K t |
| 2018 | $101.3M | 13.5K t |
| 2017 | $95.6M | 12.1K t |
Top pencil lead exporting countries
Exports are led by China (44%), Japan (16%) and Germany (10%). 105 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 70%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $38.2M | 44% |
| Japan | $13.4M | 16% |
| Germany | $8.6M | 10% |
| France | $5.6M | 6.5% |
| Vietnam | $2.5M | 3% |
| Czech Republic | $2.2M | 2.6% |
| South Korea | $1.9M | 2.2% |
| Indonesia | $1.5M | 1.8% |
| Romania | $913K | 1.1% |
| Slovakia | $806K | 0.9% |
| United States | $803K | 0.9% |
| Sweden | $793K | 0.9% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are the United States (9%), Vietnam (7%) and Turkey (7%). 187 countries imported it, and the top three take 23% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $7.6M | 8.8% |
| Vietnam | $6.0M | 7% |
| Turkey | $5.8M | 6.7% |
| Mexico | $5.8M | 6.7% |
| Germany | $4.2M | 4.9% |
| Japan | $4.2M | 4.9% |
| Saudi Arabia | $4.0M | 4.6% |
| China | $3.8M | 4.4% |
| India | $3.3M | 3.8% |
| France | $3.2M | 3.7% |
| United Kingdom | $2.0M | 2.3% |
| Canada | $1.9M | 2.3% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $7.22 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $44.89 per kg and China $4.01 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 Pencil lead (HS 9609.20) 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 9609.20: Pencil leads: black or coloured. HS 9609 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most pencil lead?
China exported $38.2 million in 2024, 44% of the world total, followed by Japan (16%) and Germany (10%). In all, 105 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most pencil lead?
The United States imported $7.6 million in 2024, 9% of world imports, ahead of Vietnam (7%) and Turkey (7%). The top three importers together take 23%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in pencil lead?
It was worth $86.1 million in 2024, about 11.9 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 10% since 2017. The peak year was 2018 at $101.3 million. 105 countries reported exports and 187 reported imports.
What is the average price of pencil lead per kg?
The world average declared value was about $7.22 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $44.89 per kg and China $4.01 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 pencil lead?
The HS code for pencil lead is subheading 9609.20, 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 9609 page.
How can I find pencil lead buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading pencil lead, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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