Mechanical pencil imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported mechanical pencil worth $3.4 million (240 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 1%. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2019, at $6.4 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 | $3.4M | 240 t |
| 2023 | $3.4M | 128 t |
| 2022 | $3.3M | 529 t |
| 2021 | $3.2M | 152 t |
| 2020 | $4.0M | 216 t |
| 2019 | $6.4M | 776 t |
| 2018 | $5.4M | 483 t |
| 2017 | $4.4M | 359 t |
Where the United Kingdom imports mechanical pencil from
The largest suppliers were China (38%), Germany (18%), Japan (13%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+59% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.3M | 38% |
| Germany | $619K | 18% |
| Japan | $461K | 14% |
| France | $369K | 11% |
| United States | $200K | 5.8% |
| Czech Republic | $145K | 4.2% |
| Thailand | $57K | 1.7% |
| India | $43K | 1.3% |
| Hong Kong | $35K | 1% |
| Poland | $33K | 1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $14.27 per kg, 41% below the world average of $24.24, 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.
Mechanical pencil exports from the United Kingdom
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported mechanical pencil worth $511 thousand (16 tonnes). Most of it went to Japan (25%), Netherlands (13%), United States (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 48%. Among the main buyer markets, India grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $126K | 25% |
| Netherlands | $65K | 13% |
| United States | $54K | 11% |
| France | $53K | 10% |
| Ireland | $50K | 9.9% |
| Germany | $50K | 9.8% |
| Taiwan | $23K | 4.5% |
| Hong Kong | $20K | 3.9% |
| India | $13K | 2.6% |
| Tanzania | $9K | 1.8% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom mechanical pencil imports (HS 9608.40): 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 9608.40: Pencils: propelling or sliding.
Common questions
What is the value of mechanical pencil imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported mechanical pencil worth $3.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 240 tonnes. That ranks it 15th of 191 countries worldwide, with 1% of world imports. The value was up 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply mechanical pencil to the United Kingdom?
China was the largest supplier with 38% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by Germany (18%) and Japan (13%). The top three together account for 70%, out of 36 supplier countries in total. Hong Kong grew fastest among the top ten, up 666% on the year.
What is the average import price of mechanical pencil per kg?
The average declared import value was about $14.27 per kg in 2024, 41% below the world average of $24.24 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of mechanical pencil to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.4 million in 2017 to $3.4 million in 2024, a fall of 22%. The peak was 2019 at $6.4 million. Over 8 years the average was $4.2 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export mechanical pencil?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $511 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Japan, the Netherlands and the United States. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $2.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for mechanical pencil?
The HS code for mechanical pencil is subheading 9608.40. It sits in HS chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 9608 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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