Plastic waste (other) trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in plastic waste (other) was worth $1.67 billion in 2024, about 3.89 million tonnes. That is a fall of 49% since 2017, and up 7% 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 | $1.67B | 3.89M t |
| 2023 | $1.56B | 3.75M t |
| 2022 | $2.07B | 3.87M t |
| 2021 | $1.74B | 3.71M t |
| 2020 | $1.38B | 3.70M t |
| 2019 | $1.77B | 4.44M t |
| 2018 | $1.99B | 4.70M t |
| 2017 | $3.26B | 7.89M t |
Top plastic waste (other) exporting countries
Japan is the largest exporter with 11% of world exports, followed by the United States and Germany. The top three supply 27% between them, out of 170 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $176.0M | 11% |
| United States | $157.2M | 9.4% |
| Germany | $121.9M | 7.3% |
| United Kingdom | $89.9M | 5.4% |
| Netherlands | $78.6M | 4.7% |
| Thailand | $76.6M | 4.6% |
| Belgium | $63.2M | 3.8% |
| Canada | $62.6M | 3.7% |
| France | $55.0M | 3.3% |
| Italy | $48.3M | 2.9% |
| Indonesia | $46.5M | 2.8% |
| Mexico | $37.2M | 2.2% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The United States is the biggest buyer with 15% of world imports, ahead of Taiwan and Malaysia. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 28% across 185 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $254.5M | 15% |
| Taiwan | $118.6M | 7.1% |
| Malaysia | $99.5M | 6% |
| Germany | $96.1M | 5.8% |
| Turkey | $88.2M | 5.3% |
| Netherlands | $83.8M | 5% |
| Vietnam | $73.4M | 4.4% |
| Canada | $66.4M | 4% |
| Thailand | $56.3M | 3.4% |
| Italy | $56.0M | 3.4% |
| Belgium | $55.6M | 3.3% |
| France | $48.8M | 2.9% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.43 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Thailand averaged $0.82 per kg and Germany $0.31 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 Plastic waste (other) (HS 3915.90) 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 3915.90: Plastics n.e.c. in heading no. 3915: waste, parings and scrap. HS 3915 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most plastic waste (other)?
Japan exported $176.0 million in 2024, 11% of the world total, followed by the United States (9%) and Germany (7%). In all, 170 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most plastic waste (other)?
The United States imported $254.5 million in 2024, 15% of world imports, ahead of Taiwan (7%) and Malaysia (6%). The top three importers together take 28%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in plastic waste (other)?
It was worth $1.67 billion in 2024, about 3.89 million tonnes. That is a fall of 49% since 2017. The peak year was 2017 at $3.26 billion. 170 countries reported exports and 185 reported imports.
What is the average price of plastic waste (other) per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.43 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Thailand averaged $0.82 per kg and Germany $0.31 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 plastic waste (other)?
The HS code for plastic waste (other) is subheading 3915.90, in chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 3915 page.
How can I find plastic waste (other) buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading plastic waste (other), from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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