Pencil lead imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
The United Kingdom imported $2.0 million of pencil lead in 2024 (400 tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is close to the 2023 level. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2021, at $3.1 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 | $2.0M | 400 t |
| 2023 | $2.0M | 512 t |
| 2022 | $2.0M | 310 t |
| 2021 | $3.1M | 418 t |
| 2020 | $2.4M | 425 t |
| 2019 | $2.4M | 425 t |
| 2018 | $2.5M | 561 t |
| 2017 | $2.2M | 351 t |
Where the United Kingdom imports pencil lead from
China alone supplied 67% of it.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.3M | 67% |
| Hong Kong | $149K | 7.4% |
| Poland | $120K | 6% |
| Germany | $117K | 5.8% |
| Czech Republic | $50K | 2.5% |
| Japan | $50K | 2.5% |
| Thailand | $40K | 2% |
| Indonesia | $31K | 1.5% |
| Spain | $23K | 1.1% |
| Denmark | $17K | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.01 per kg, 31% below the world average of $7.22, 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.
Pencil lead exports from the United Kingdom
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported pencil lead worth $250 thousand (10 tonnes). The largest buyer markets were United States (33%), France (11%), Saudi Arabia (6%). Among the main buyer markets, United States grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $83K | 33% |
| France | $28K | 11% |
| Saudi Arabia | $14K | 5.7% |
| Gibraltar | $13K | 5.3% |
| Australia | $11K | 4.4% |
| Ireland | $11K | 4.3% |
| India | $11K | 4.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $10K | 4.1% |
| Hong Kong | $10K | 4.1% |
| Germany | $10K | 3.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom pencil lead imports (HS 9609.20): 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 9609.20: Pencil leads: black or coloured.
Common questions
What is the value of pencil lead imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported pencil lead worth $2.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 400 tonnes. That ranks it 11th of 187 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply pencil lead to the United Kingdom?
China was the largest supplier with 67% of the value ($1.3 million), followed by Hong Kong (7%) and Poland (6%). The top three together account for 80%, out of 25 supplier countries in total. The Czech Republic grew fastest among the top ten, up 169% on the year.
What is the average import price of pencil lead per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.01 per kg in 2024, 31% below the world average of $7.22 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of pencil lead to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.2 million in 2017 to $2.0 million in 2024, a fall of 10%. The peak was 2021 at $3.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.3 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export pencil lead?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $250 thousand worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the United States, France and Saudi Arabia. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $1.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for pencil lead?
The HS code for pencil lead is subheading 9609.20. It sits in HS chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 9609 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
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