Expanded polystyrene film and sheet imports in the United Arab Emirates: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of expanded polystyrene film and sheet by the United Arab Emirates reached $4.9 million in 2024 (1.6 thousand tonnes). That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $9.1 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.9M | 1.6K t |
| 2023 | $4.9M | 1.8K t |
| 2022 | $5.1M | 1.5K t |
| 2021 | $4.7M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $4.9M | 1.3K t |
| 2019 | $9.1M | 2.7K t |
| 2018 | $8.7M | 3.6K t |
| 2017 | $8.5M | 2.9K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates imports expanded polystyrene film and sheet from
The largest suppliers were China (38%), Kuwait (21%), United States (13%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.9M | 38% |
| Kuwait | $1.0M | 21% |
| United States | $656K | 14% |
| Canada | $461K | 9.4% |
| Germany | $400K | 8.2% |
| India | $145K | 3% |
| South Korea | $89K | 1.8% |
| Sweden | $78K | 1.6% |
| Saudi Arabia | $50K | 1% |
| Estonia | $37K | 0.8% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.08 per kg, close to the world average of $3.27.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Expanded polystyrene film and sheet exports from the United Arab Emirates
Exports of expanded polystyrene film and sheet by the United Arab Emirates reached $794 thousand in 2024 (230 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Sri Lanka (18%), Kuwait (15%), Saudi Arabia (15%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 48%. Among the main buyer markets, Kuwait grew fastest (+751% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | $146K | 18% |
| Kuwait | $118K | 15% |
| Saudi Arabia | $118K | 15% |
| United States | $116K | 15% |
| Australia | $59K | 7.5% |
| India | $50K | 6.3% |
| Zimbabwe | $39K | 4.9% |
| Kenya | $31K | 3.9% |
| Italy | $22K | 2.7% |
| Cyprus | $19K | 2.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
The shipment records behind United Arab Emirates expanded polystyrene film and sheet imports (HS 3921.11): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
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 3921.11: Plastics: plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of polymers of styrene, cellular.
Common questions
What is the value of expanded polystyrene film and sheet imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported expanded polystyrene film and sheet worth $4.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 55th of 214 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 0% on 2023.
Which countries supply expanded polystyrene film and sheet to the United Arab Emirates?
China was the largest supplier with 38% of the value ($1.9 million), followed by Kuwait (21%) and the United States (13%). The top three together account for 73%, out of 26 supplier countries in total. Sweden grew fastest among the top ten, up 984% on the year.
What is the average import price of expanded polystyrene film and sheet per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.08 per kg in 2024, 6% below the world average of $3.27 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of expanded polystyrene film and sheet to the United Arab Emirates changed since 2017?
Imports went from $8.5 million in 2017 to $4.9 million in 2024, a fall of 43%. The peak was 2019 at $9.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $6.3 million a year.
Does the United Arab Emirates also export expanded polystyrene film and sheet?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported $794 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. On balance the United Arab Emirates is a net importer of this product, by about $4.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for expanded polystyrene film and sheet?
The HS code for expanded polystyrene film and sheet is subheading 3921.11. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3921 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds the United Arab Emirates trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World expanded polystyrene film and sheet trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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