Smart cards imports in the United Kingdom: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of smart cards by the United Kingdom reached $197.8 million in 2024 (1.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 8th of 215 countries for imports of this product. The value was almost unchanged from 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 | $197.8M | 1.9K t |
| 2023 | $200.3M | 2.1K t |
| 2022 | $227.5M | 2.0K t |
| 2021 | $188.8M | 1.7K t |
| 2020 | $171.9M | 2.4K t |
| 2019 | $201.1M | 2.1K t |
| 2018 | $179.6M | 1.8K t |
| 2017 | $208.9M | 5.6K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports smart cards from
Most of the value came from China (27%), France (14%), Poland (12%). Among the main suppliers, Austria grew fastest (+268% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $53.8M | 27% |
| France | $27.8M | 14% |
| Poland | $23.1M | 12% |
| Andorra | $11.6M | 5.9% |
| Spain | $10.8M | 5.5% |
| United States | $10.4M | 5.3% |
| Germany | $9.4M | 4.8% |
| Ireland | $8.6M | 4.4% |
| Austria | $8.6M | 4.4% |
| Romania | $4.2M | 2.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $101.75 per kg, close to the world average of $112.76.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Smart cards exports from the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom exported $41.0 million of smart cards in 2024 (428 tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Netherlands (15%), United States (14%), Ireland (11%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 40%. Among the main buyer markets, Czech Republic grew fastest (+622% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $6.0M | 15% |
| United States | $5.8M | 14% |
| Ireland | $4.7M | 12% |
| Germany | $2.9M | 7.1% |
| France | $2.9M | 7% |
| China | $2.5M | 6.2% |
| Belgium | $1.6M | 3.9% |
| Czech Republic | $1.2M | 2.9% |
| Hong Kong | $1.1M | 2.6% |
| Malaysia | $980K | 2.4% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United Kingdom?
The shipment records behind United Kingdom smart cards imports (HS 8523.52): 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 8523.52: Semiconductor media: smart cards, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37.
Common questions
What is the value of smart cards imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported smart cards worth $197.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 1.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 8th of 215 countries worldwide, with 3% of world imports. The value was down 1% on 2023.
Which countries supply smart cards to the United Kingdom?
China was the largest supplier with 27% of the value ($53.8 million), followed by France (14%) and Poland (12%). The top three together account for 53%, out of 64 supplier countries in total. Austria grew fastest among the top ten, up 268% on the year.
What is the average import price of smart cards per kg?
The average declared import value was about $101.75 per kg in 2024, 10% below the world average of $112.76 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have imports of smart cards to the United Kingdom changed since 2017?
Imports went from $208.9 million in 2017 to $197.8 million in 2024, a fall of 5%. The peak was 2022 at $227.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $197.0 million a year.
Does the United Kingdom also export smart cards?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported $41.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to the Netherlands, the United States and Ireland. On balance the United Kingdom is a net importer of this product, by about $156.8 million a year.
What is the HS code for smart cards?
The HS code for smart cards is subheading 8523.52. It sits in HS chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8523 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.
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