Writing and drawing ink exports from the United Arab Emirates: data, top buyers and prices
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates exported writing and drawing ink worth $2.9 million (324 tonnes). Value fell 93% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 5% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $43.9 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.9M | 324 t |
| 2023 | $43.9M | 739 t |
| 2022 | $9.1M | 752 t |
| 2021 | $6.5M | 534 t |
| 2020 | $4.7M | 539 t |
| 2019 | $6.4M | 645 t |
| 2018 | $7.3M | 568 t |
| 2017 | $4.2M | 901 t |
Where the United Arab Emirates exports writing and drawing ink to
Most of it went to Netherlands (23%), Angola (16%), United Kingdom (14%). Among the main buyer markets, Czech Republic grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $667K | 23% |
| Angola | $448K | 16% |
| United Kingdom | $415K | 15% |
| Seychelles | $175K | 6.1% |
| Czech Republic | $157K | 5.5% |
| Lesotho | $152K | 5.3% |
| Lithuania | $127K | 4.4% |
| Hungary | $118K | 4.1% |
| Mauritius | $86K | 3% |
| Senegal | $70K | 2.5% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $8.87 per kg, 74% below the world average of $34.72, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Writing and drawing ink imports to the United Arab Emirates
Imports of writing and drawing ink by the United Arab Emirates reached $1.06 billion in 2024 (1.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 220 countries. India alone supplied 96% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $1.02B | 96% |
| Germany | $31.3M | 3% |
| Netherlands | $2.8M | 0.3% |
| China | $2.0M | 0.2% |
| United States | $991K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $909K | 0.1% |
| Philippines | $535K | 0.1% |
| Belgium | $396K | 0% |
| France | $324K | 0% |
| South Korea | $299K | 0% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
The shipment records behind United Arab Emirates writing and drawing ink exports (HS 3215.90): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 3215.90: Ink: writing, drawing and other inks, n.e.c. in heading no. 3215, whether or not concentrated or solid.
Common questions
What is the value of writing and drawing ink exported by the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates exported writing and drawing ink worth $2.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 324 tonnes. That ranks it 45th of 164 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was down 93% on 2023.
Which countries buy writing and drawing ink from the United Arab Emirates?
The Netherlands was the largest buyer with 23% of the value ($666 thousand), followed by Angola (16%) and the United Kingdom (14%). The top three together account for 53%, out of 61 buyer countries in total. Hungary grew fastest among the top ten, up 381% on the year.
What is the average export price of writing and drawing ink per kg?
The average declared export value was about $8.87 per kg in 2024, 74% below the world average of $34.72 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have exports of writing and drawing ink from the United Arab Emirates changed since 2017?
Exports went from $4.2 million in 2017 to $2.9 million in 2024, a fall of 32%. The peak was 2023 at $43.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $10.6 million a year.
Does the United Arab Emirates also import writing and drawing ink?
Yes. The United Arab Emirates imported $1.06 billion worth of this product in 2024, mainly from India, Germany and the Netherlands. That compares with exports of $2.9 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for writing and drawing ink?
The HS code for writing and drawing ink is subheading 3215.90. It sits in HS chapter 32 (tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints, varnishes; putty, other mastics; inks). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3215 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For the United Arab Emirates, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
World writing and drawing ink trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United Arab Emirates
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