🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates exports of plastic waste: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates exported plastic waste worth $9.0 million (15.0 thousand tonnes). That is 29% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 14% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $25.4 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of plastic waste by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9.0M | 15.0K t |
| 2023 | $12.7M | 19.2K t |
| 2022 | $13.4M | 24.5K t |
| 2021 | $13.2M | 24.1K t |
| 2020 | $8.1M | 17.6K t |
| 2019 | $13.5M | 28.7K t |
| 2018 | $16.5M | 30.3K t |
| 2017 | $25.4M | 48.4K t |
Where the United Arab Emirates exports plastic waste to
Most of it went to Pakistan (30%), Taiwan (24%), Italy (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Myanmar grew fastest (+408% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $2.7M | 30% |
| Taiwan | $2.1M | 24% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $762K | 8.5% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $730K | 8.1% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $433K | 4.8% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $433K | 4.8% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $352K | 3.9% |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | $325K | 3.6% |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | $278K | 3.1% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $174K | 1.9% |
Types of plastic waste under HS 3915
| 3915.90 | Plastics n.e.c. in heading no. 3915: waste, parings and scrap | 75% |
| 3915.10 | Ethylene polymers: waste, parings and scrap | 13% |
| 3915.30 | Vinyl chloride polymers: waste, parings and scrap | 9.5% |
| 3915.20 | Styrene polymers: waste, parings and scrap | 2.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3915.
Average export price of plastic waste
The average declared value was about $0.60 per kg, 43% above the world average of $0.42. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Arab Emirates also imports plastic waste
Imports of plastic waste by the United Arab Emirates reached $4.5 million in 2024 (12.4 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were Italy (26%), China (24%), Tanzania (15%). Among the main suppliers, Tanzania grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $1.2M | 27% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $1.1M | 24% |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | $675K | 15% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $558K | 12% |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | $375K | 8.3% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $195K | 4.3% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $94K | 2.1% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $82K | 1.8% |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $79K | 1.8% |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | $76K | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
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.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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: Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics.
Plastic waste trade in the United Arab Emirates: questions
What is the value of plastic waste imported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates imported plastic waste worth $4.5 million in 2024 (12.4 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Arab Emirates import plastic waste from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Italy (26%), China (24%), Tanzania (15%).
What is the average import price of plastic waste in the United Arab Emirates?
The average declared import value was about $0.36 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $0.42 per kg.
Does the United Arab Emirates export plastic waste?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates exported plastic waste worth $9.0 million in 2024, mainly to Pakistan, Taiwan, Italy.
What is the HS code for plastic waste?
Plastic waste falls under HS heading 3915 (Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading plastic waste with the United Arab Emirates?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX builds the United Arab Emirates trade from the records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see who ships this product there.
Plastic waste trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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