Expandable polystyrene beads imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Kingdom imported $128.5 million of expandable polystyrene beads in 2024 (64.6 thousand tonnes). It ranks 7th of 173 countries for imports of this product. That is 13% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $183.5 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 | $128.5M | 64.6K t |
| 2023 | $114.1M | 57.2K t |
| 2022 | $175.0M | 65.1K t |
| 2021 | $183.5M | 86.5K t |
| 2020 | $88.5M | 61.8K t |
| 2019 | $106.0M | 65.5K t |
| 2018 | $131.0M | 67.2K t |
| 2017 | $105.3M | 56.2K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports expandable polystyrene beads from
The largest suppliers were Germany (35%), Netherlands (15%), Belgium (11%). Among the main suppliers, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $45.0M | 35% |
| Netherlands | $19.8M | 15% |
| Belgium | $14.1M | 11% |
| Finland | $9.8M | 7.6% |
| Norway | $7.6M | 5.9% |
| Poland | $7.5M | 5.8% |
| France | $6.6M | 5.2% |
| Turkey | $4.1M | 3.2% |
| United States | $3.9M | 3% |
| Austria | $3.2M | 2.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.99 per kg, close to the world average of $1.73.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Expandable polystyrene beads exports from the United Kingdom
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported expandable polystyrene beads worth $2.8 million (1.5 thousand tonnes). The largest buyer markets were Ireland (24%), Netherlands (18%), Japan (16%). Among the main buyer markets, Malaysia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | $655K | 24% |
| Netherlands | $487K | 18% |
| Japan | $432K | 16% |
| Malaysia | $298K | 11% |
| United States | $154K | 5.6% |
| Spain | $126K | 4.6% |
| Saudi Arabia | $124K | 4.5% |
| Poland | $73K | 2.6% |
| Sweden | $69K | 2.5% |
| Czech Republic | $45K | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom expandable polystyrene beads imports (HS 3903.11): 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 3903.11: Styrene polymers: expansible polystyrene, in primary forms.
Common questions
What is the value of expandable polystyrene beads imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported expandable polystyrene beads worth $128.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 64.6 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 7th of 173 countries worldwide, with 3% of world imports. The value was up 13% on 2023.
Which countries supply expandable polystyrene beads to the United Kingdom?
Germany was the largest supplier with 35% of the value ($45.0 million), followed by the Netherlands (15%) and Belgium (11%). The top three together account for 61%, out of 27 supplier countries in total. Austria grew fastest among the top ten, up 55% on the year.
What is the average import price of expandable polystyrene beads per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.99 per kg in 2024, 15% above the world average of $1.73 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of expandable polystyrene beads to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $105.3 million in 2017 to $128.5 million in 2024, an increase of 22%. The peak was 2021 at $183.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $129.0 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export expandable polystyrene beads?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $2.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Ireland, the Netherlands and Japan. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $125.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for expandable polystyrene beads?
The HS code for expandable polystyrene beads is subheading 3903.11. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3903 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.
Same product, other countries
World expandable polystyrene beads trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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