Agar-agar imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Kingdom imported $12.1 million of agar-agar in 2024 (445 tonnes). That makes it the 7th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 171 countries. That is 5% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $12.1M | 445 t |
| 2023 | $11.5M | 382 t |
| 2022 | $10.6M | 428 t |
| 2021 | $9.3M | 864 t |
| 2020 | $9.9M | 378 t |
| 2019 | $12.5M | 524 t |
| 2018 | $12.8M | 586 t |
| 2017 | $12.3M | 714 t |
Where the United Kingdom imports agar-agar from
One supplier dominates: Spain accounted for 50% of the value. Among the main suppliers, Italy grew fastest (+133% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | $6.1M | 50% |
| Morocco | $3.1M | 26% |
| Italy | $696K | 5.8% |
| Mexico | $490K | 4.1% |
| China | $475K | 3.9% |
| United States | $397K | 3.3% |
| France | $241K | 2% |
| Germany | $202K | 1.7% |
| Belgium | $57K | 0.5% |
| Philippines | $53K | 0.4% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $27.13 per kg, 58% above the world average of $17.22. 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.
Agar-agar exports from the United Kingdom
Exports of agar-agar by the United Kingdom reached $1.2 million in 2024 (57 tonnes). Most of it went to France (15%), United States (13%), Italy (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 37%. Among the main buyer markets, South Korea grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| France | $172K | 15% |
| United States | $154K | 13% |
| Italy | $112K | 9.6% |
| Germany | $100K | 8.5% |
| South Korea | $90K | 7.7% |
| Canada | $66K | 5.7% |
| Ireland | $66K | 5.7% |
| China | $66K | 5.6% |
| Spain | $60K | 5.1% |
| Netherlands | $57K | 4.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom agar-agar imports (HS 1302.31): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 1302.31: Mucilages and thickeners: agar-agar, whether or not modified, derived from vegetable products.
Common questions
What is the value of agar-agar imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported agar-agar worth $12.1 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 445 tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 171 countries worldwide, with 4% of world imports. The value was up 5% on 2023.
Which countries supply agar-agar to the United Kingdom?
Spain was the largest supplier with 50% of the value ($6.1 million), followed by Morocco (26%) and Italy (6%). The top three together account for 82%, out of 23 supplier countries in total. Italy grew fastest among the top ten, up 133% on the year.
What is the average import price of agar-agar per kg?
The average declared import value was about $27.13 per kg in 2024, 58% above the world average of $17.22 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of agar-agar to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $12.3 million in 2017 to $12.1 million in 2024, a fall of 2%. The peak was 2018 at $12.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $11.4 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export agar-agar?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $1.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to France, the United States and Italy. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $10.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for agar-agar?
The HS code for agar-agar is subheading 1302.31. It sits in HS chapter 13 (lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 1302 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom. Tell us your product to see it live.
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