🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of optical elements: 2024 trade data
Imports of optical elements by the United Kingdom reached $270.6 million in 2024 (533 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 13% less than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of optical elements by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $270.6M | 533 t |
| 2023 | $311.3M | 471 t |
| 2022 | $318.0M | 529 t |
| 2021 | $255.3M | 1.6K t |
| 2020 | $217.4M | 1.9K t |
| 2019 | $264.4M | 911 t |
| 2018 | $268.9M | 682 t |
| 2017 | $242.2M | 663 t |
Where the United Kingdom imports optical elements from
Most of the value came from Japan (27%), China (22%), Germany (14%). Among the main suppliers, Singapore grew fastest (+58% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $74.2M | 27% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $58.4M | 22% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $38.8M | 14% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $33.9M | 13% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $18.0M | 6.7% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $5.3M | 2% |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $5.2M | 1.9% |
| Taiwan | $4.8M | 1.8% |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | $4.3M | 1.6% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $4.1M | 1.5% |
Types of optical elements under HS 9002
| 9002.11 | Lenses: objective, for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of… | 63% |
| 9002.90 | Optical elements: n.e.c. in heading no. 9002 (e.g. prisms and mirrors), mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any… | 21% |
| 9002.19 | Lenses: objective, (other than for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers), mounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass… | 10% |
| 9002.20 | Filters: mounted as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked) | 6.3% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 9002.
Average import price of optical elements
The average declared value was about $507.99 per kg, close to the world average of $452.00.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Kingdom also exports optical elements
Exports of optical elements by the United Kingdom reached $135.2 million in 2024 (291 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were United States (20%), Germany (12%), Ireland (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 42%. Among the main buyer markets, China grew fastest (+99% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $27.6M | 20% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $16.5M | 12% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $12.8M | 9.5% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $9.9M | 7.3% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $6.1M | 4.5% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $6.0M | 4.4% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $5.2M | 3.8% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $4.6M | 3.4% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $4.5M | 3.3% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $4.4M | 3.3% |
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 9002: Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, other than such elements of glass not optically worked.
Optical elements trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of optical elements imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported optical elements worth $270.6 million in 2024 (533 tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import optical elements from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Japan (27%), China (22%), Germany (14%).
What is the average import price of optical elements in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $507.99 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $452.00 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export optical elements?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported optical elements worth $135.2 million in 2024, mainly to United States, Germany, Ireland.
What is the HS code for optical elements?
Optical elements falls under HS heading 9002 (Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading optical elements 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.
Optical elements trade in other countries
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