🇬🇧 United Kingdom exports of chemical waste: 2024 trade data
Exports of chemical waste by the United Kingdom reached $36.2 million in 2024 (1.86 million tonnes). That makes it the 2nd largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 137 countries. Value fell 21% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 18% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $45.6 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of chemical waste by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36.2M | 1.86M t |
| 2023 | $45.6M | 1.81M t |
| 2022 | $31.8M | 1.59M t |
| 2021 | $27.5M | 1.49M t |
| 2020 | $4.2M | 44.6K t |
| 2019 | $5.1M | 84.9K t |
| 2018 | $6.7M | 79.5K t |
| 2017 | $11.2M | 296.5K t |
Where the United Kingdom exports chemical waste to
Most of it went to Sweden (37%), Latvia (19%), Netherlands (9%). Among the main buyer markets, Portugal grew fastest (+761% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | $13.3M | 37% |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | $6.9M | 19% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $3.2M | 8.9% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $1.8M | 5.1% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $1.7M | 4.6% |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $1.3M | 3.7% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $1.2M | 3.3% |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | $1.1M | 3% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $1.1M | 3% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $824K | 2.3% |
Types of chemical waste under HS 3825
| 3825.10 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: municipal waste | 78% |
| 3825.90 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: n.e.c. in 3825 or 27.10 | 11% |
| 3825.61 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: (other than sewage sludge, municipal waste or waste… | 5.7% |
| 3825.69 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: (other than sewage sludge, municipal waste or waste… | 2.4% |
| 3825.49 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: waste organic solvents, other than halogenated | 2.3% |
| 3825.50 | Residual products of chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: wastes of metal pickling liquors, hydraulic fluids, brake… | 0.3% |
| 3825.41 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: halogenated waste organic solvents | 0.1% |
| 3825.30 | Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included: clinical waste | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3825.
Average export price of chemical waste
The average declared value was about $0.02 per kg, 71% below the world average of $0.07, 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.
The United Kingdom also imports chemical waste
The United Kingdom imported $5.5 million of chemical waste in 2024 (9.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. Ireland alone supplied 50% of it. Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest (+189% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $2.8M | 50% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $1.7M | 31% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $361K | 6.5% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $247K | 4.5% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $105K | 1.9% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $101K | 1.8% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $79K | 1.4% |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | $55K | 1% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $45K | 0.8% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $13K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
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.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 3825: Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included; municipal waste; sewage sludge; other residual products..
Chemical waste trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of chemical waste imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported chemical waste worth $5.5 million in 2024 (9.3 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import chemical waste from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Ireland (50%), France (31%), United States (7%).
What is the average import price of chemical waste in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $0.59 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $0.07 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export chemical waste?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported chemical waste worth $36.2 million in 2024, mainly to Sweden, Latvia, Netherlands.
What is the HS code for chemical waste?
Chemical waste falls under HS heading 3825 (Residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included; municipal waste; sewage slu). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading chemical waste with the United Kingdom?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Chemical waste trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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