Paper finishing agent imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Kingdom imported $21.9 million of paper finishing agent in 2024 (102.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 16% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $21.9M | 102.4K t |
| 2023 | $19.0M | 47.1K t |
| 2022 | $22.0M | 53.4K t |
| 2021 | $20.8M | 60.4K t |
| 2020 | $22.1M | 96.8K t |
| 2019 | $18.9M | 67.4K t |
| 2018 | $18.7M | 48.4K t |
| 2017 | $15.9M | 43.7K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports paper finishing agent from
The largest suppliers were Norway (37%), Poland (13%), United States (11%). Among the main suppliers, Norway grew fastest (+100% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | $8.0M | 37% |
| Poland | $2.8M | 13% |
| United States | $2.5M | 11% |
| Spain | $2.3M | 11% |
| Germany | $2.0M | 9% |
| Sweden | $1.2M | 5.3% |
| Italy | $972K | 4.4% |
| Austria | $926K | 4.2% |
| Belgium | $664K | 3% |
| France | $264K | 1.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.21 per kg, 80% below the world average of $1.04, 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.
Paper finishing agent exports from the United Kingdom
Exports of paper finishing agent by the United Kingdom reached $14.8 million in 2024 (7.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Most of it went to Turkey (11%), Germany (8%), France (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 27%. Among the main buyer markets, United States grew fastest (+170% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $1.6M | 11% |
| Germany | $1.2M | 8% |
| France | $1.2M | 7.9% |
| United States | $1.2M | 7.9% |
| Canada | $1.1M | 7.4% |
| Colombia | $1.1M | 7.4% |
| Austria | $1.1M | 7.2% |
| Poland | $940K | 6.4% |
| China | $755K | 5.1% |
| Italy | $509K | 3.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom paper finishing agent imports (HS 3809.92): 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 3809.92: Finishing agents and dye carriers: to accelerate dyeing or fixing of dye-stuffs, other products and preparations, used in the paper industry (excluding those with a basis of amylaceous substances).
Common questions
What is the value of paper finishing agent imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported paper finishing agent worth $21.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 102.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 13th of 160 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was up 16% on 2023.
Which countries supply paper finishing agent to the United Kingdom?
Norway was the largest supplier with 37% of the value ($8.0 million), followed by Poland (13%) and the United States (11%). The top three together account for 60%, out of 20 supplier countries in total. Norway grew fastest among the top ten, up 100% on the year.
What is the average import price of paper finishing agent per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.21 per kg in 2024, 80% below the world average of $1.04 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of paper finishing agent to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $15.9 million in 2017 to $21.9 million in 2024, an increase of 38%. The peak was 2020 at $22.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $19.9 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export paper finishing agent?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $14.8 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Turkey, Germany and France. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $7.2 million a year.
What is the HS code for paper finishing agent?
The HS code for paper finishing agent is subheading 3809.92. It sits in HS chapter 38 (chemical products n.e.c.). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3809 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 paper finishing agent trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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.