🇬🇧 United Kingdom exports of printed books: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported printed books worth $1.78 billion (107.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 3rd of 223 countries for exports of this product. The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2018, at $2.29 billion.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of printed books by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.78B | 107.9K t |
| 2023 | $1.76B | 108.9K t |
| 2022 | $1.81B | 117.2K t |
| 2021 | $1.69B | 116.5K t |
| 2020 | $1.99B | 124.9K t |
| 2019 | $2.23B | 169.9K t |
| 2018 | $2.29B | 192.0K t |
| 2017 | $2.14B | 166.0K t |
Where the United Kingdom exports printed books to
Most of it went to United States (20%), France (9%), Germany (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 37%. Among the main buyer markets, United Arab Emirates grew fastest (+30% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $360.7M | 20% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $160.1M | 9% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $138.5M | 7.8% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $115.6M | 6.5% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $111.4M | 6.3% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $77.2M | 4.3% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | $54.6M | 3.1% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $50.4M | 2.8% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $37.3M | 2.1% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $31.2M | 1.8% |
Types of printed books under HS 4901
| 4901.99 | Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91 | 91% |
| 4901.10 | Printed matter: in single sheets, whether or not folded | 8.1% |
| 4901.91 | Printed matter: dictionaries, encyclopaedias and serial instalments thereof | 1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 4901.
Average export price of printed books
The average declared value was about $16.52 per kg, 76% above the world average of $9.39. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
The United Kingdom also imports printed books
The United Kingdom imported $820.5 million of printed books in 2024 (109.0 thousand tonnes). It ranks 5th of 225 countries for imports of this product. Most of the value came from United States (31%), China (18%), Hong Kong (7%). Among the main suppliers, Hong Kong grew fastest (+98% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $256.1M | 31% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $148.4M | 18% |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | $57.2M | 7% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $55.3M | 6.7% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $54.5M | 6.7% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $29.5M | 3.6% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $19.0M | 2.3% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $16.3M | 2% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $16.2M | 2% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $15.7M | 1.9% |
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 4901: Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets.
Printed books trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of printed books imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported printed books worth $820.5 million in 2024 (109.0 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import printed books from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were United States (31%), China (18%), Hong Kong (7%).
What is the average import price of printed books in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $7.53 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $9.39 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export printed books?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported printed books worth $1.78 billion in 2024, mainly to United States, France, Germany.
What is the HS code for printed books?
Printed books falls under HS heading 4901 (Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading printed books 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.
Printed books trade in other countries
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