🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of sand: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported sand worth $41.8 million (477.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. That is 5% more 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 sand by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41.8M | 477.2K t |
| 2023 | $39.8M | 509.3K t |
| 2022 | $47.8M | 600.3K t |
| 2021 | $43.3M | 430.3K t |
| 2020 | $30.9M | 308.0K t |
| 2019 | $38.8M | 489.1K t |
| 2018 | $36.4M | 617.1K t |
| 2017 | $32.7M | 569.6K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports sand from
The largest suppliers were Ireland (16%), Belgium (15%), Netherlands (14%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 45%. Among the main suppliers, Canada grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $6.7M | 16% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $6.5M | 16% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $5.7M | 14% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $5.5M | 13% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $5.3M | 13% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $3.0M | 7.2% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $3.0M | 7.2% |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $1.9M | 4.6% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $1.5M | 3.6% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $1.1M | 2.6% |
Types of sand under HS 2505
| 2505.10 | Sands: natural, silica and quartz sands, whether or not coloured | 69% |
| 2505.90 | Sands: natural, (other than silica and quartz sands), whether or not coloured, (other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26) | 31% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 2505.
Average import price of sand
The average declared value was about $0.09 per kg, 350% above the world average of $0.02. 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 exports sand
Exports of sand by the United Kingdom reached $21.1 million in 2024 (704.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Most of it went to Ireland (33%), Netherlands (18%), Belgium (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Germany grew fastest (+672% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $7.0M | 33% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $3.7M | 18% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $1.7M | 8.2% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $1.3M | 6.2% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $972K | 4.6% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $925K | 4.4% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | $833K | 3.9% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $772K | 3.7% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $720K | 3.4% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $347K | 1.6% |
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 2505: Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26.
Sand trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of sand imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported sand worth $41.8 million in 2024 (477.2 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import sand from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Ireland (16%), Belgium (15%), Netherlands (14%).
What is the average import price of sand in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $0.09 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $0.02 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export sand?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported sand worth $21.1 million in 2024, mainly to Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium.
What is the HS code for sand?
Sand falls under HS heading 2505 (Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading sand 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.
Sand trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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