Citric acid salts and esters imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported citric acid salts and esters worth $23.2 million (11.5 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. Value fell 15% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $39.0 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 | $23.2M | 11.5K t |
| 2023 | $27.3M | 10.6K t |
| 2022 | $39.0M | 14.3K t |
| 2021 | $23.1M | 12.4K t |
| 2020 | $23.7M | 13.4K t |
| 2019 | $24.8M | 14.6K t |
| 2018 | $22.7M | 12.4K t |
| 2017 | $19.1M | 11.5K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports citric acid salts and esters from
Most of the value came from China (33%), Germany (22%), Austria (15%). Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+39% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $7.6M | 33% |
| Germany | $5.2M | 22% |
| Austria | $3.4M | 15% |
| Belgium | $1.9M | 8.3% |
| India | $997K | 4.3% |
| United States | $805K | 3.5% |
| Ireland | $723K | 3.1% |
| Israel | $694K | 3% |
| Spain | $361K | 1.6% |
| Italy | $306K | 1.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.02 per kg, close to the world average of $1.79.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Citric acid salts and esters exports from the United Kingdom
Exports of citric acid salts and esters by the United Kingdom reached $3.1 million in 2024 (636 tonnes). Most of it went to Netherlands (25%), Ireland (12%), Germany (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 47%. Among the main buyer markets, Saudi Arabia grew fastest (+303% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $759K | 25% |
| Ireland | $375K | 12% |
| Germany | $290K | 9.5% |
| Australia | $230K | 7.5% |
| Spain | $225K | 7.4% |
| Indonesia | $169K | 5.5% |
| Sweden | $167K | 5.5% |
| United States | $113K | 3.7% |
| Saudi Arabia | $89K | 2.9% |
| Belgium | $64K | 2.1% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom citric acid salts and esters imports (HS 2918.15): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
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.
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 2918.15: Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), salts and esters of citric acid.
Common questions
What is the value of citric acid salts and esters imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported citric acid salts and esters worth $23.2 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 11.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 14th of 185 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 15% on 2023.
Which countries supply citric acid salts and esters to the United Kingdom?
China was the largest supplier with 33% of the value ($7.6 million), followed by Germany (22%) and Austria (15%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 29 supplier countries in total. India grew fastest among the top ten, up 39% on the year.
What is the average import price of citric acid salts and esters per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.02 per kg in 2024, 13% above the world average of $1.79 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of citric acid salts and esters to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $19.1 million in 2017 to $23.2 million in 2024, an increase of 21%. The peak was 2022 at $39.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $25.4 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export citric acid salts and esters?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $3.1 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $20.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for citric acid salts and esters?
The HS code for citric acid salts and esters is subheading 2918.15. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2918 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United Kingdom, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World citric acid salts and esters trade: top importers and exporters
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.