🇬🇧 United Kingdom imports of synthetic dye: 2024 trade data
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported synthetic dye worth $209.0 million (22.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. Value fell 6% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 5% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2019, at $355.2 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of synthetic dye by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $209.0M | 22.2K t |
| 2023 | $223.2M | 22.2K t |
| 2022 | $276.7M | 28.4K t |
| 2021 | $309.5M | 34.0K t |
| 2020 | $319.9M | 37.2K t |
| 2019 | $355.2M | 41.2K t |
| 2018 | $346.5M | 43.7K t |
| 2017 | $304.4M | 39.2K t |
Where the United Kingdom imports synthetic dye from
The largest suppliers were India (22%), Germany (15%), China (15%). Among the main suppliers, South Korea grew fastest (+34% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | $45.4M | 22% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $31.9M | 15% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $30.9M | 15% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $17.4M | 8.3% |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | $12.4M | 5.9% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $12.0M | 5.8% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $9.3M | 4.4% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $9.3M | 4.4% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $7.9M | 3.8% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $6.0M | 2.9% |
Types of synthetic dye under HS 3204
| 3204.17 | Dyes: pigments and preparations based thereon | 50% |
| 3204.19 | Dyes: n.e.c., including mixtures of colouring matter of two or more of those from item no. 3204.11 to 3204.19 | 20% |
| 3204.11 | Dyes: disperse dyes and preparations based thereon | 8.2% |
| 3204.12 | Dyes: acid, whether or not premetallised and preparations based thereon, mordant dyes and preparations based thereon | 5.9% |
| 3204.20 | Dyes: synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents | 3.6% |
| 3204.14 | Dyes: direct dyes and preparations based thereon | 3% |
| 3204.13 | Dyes: basic dyes and preparations based thereon | 3% |
| 3204.90 | Dyes: synthetic organic products n.e.c. in heading no. 3204 (e.g. of a kind used as luminophores), whether or not chemically defined | 2.7% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3204.
Average import price of synthetic dye
The average declared value was about $9.43 per kg, 30% above the world average of $7.25. 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 synthetic dye
Exports of synthetic dye by the United Kingdom reached $171.1 million in 2024 (19.3 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. The largest buyer markets were Netherlands (12%), Germany (10%), Belgium (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 31%. Among the main buyer markets, Spain grew fastest (+103% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $20.7M | 12% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $17.3M | 10% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $14.3M | 8.4% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $12.1M | 7.1% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $11.5M | 6.7% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $9.1M | 5.3% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $8.8M | 5.1% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $5.1M | 3% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $4.7M | 2.7% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | $4.3M | 2.5% |
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 3204: Synthetic organic colouring matter and preparations based thereon; synthetic organic products used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores; whether or not chemically defined.
Synthetic dye trade in the United Kingdom: questions
What is the value of synthetic dye imported by the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom imported synthetic dye worth $209.0 million in 2024 (22.2 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United Kingdom import synthetic dye from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were India (22%), Germany (15%), China (15%).
What is the average import price of synthetic dye in the United Kingdom?
The average declared import value was about $9.43 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $7.25 per kg.
Does the United Kingdom export synthetic dye?
Yes. The United Kingdom exported synthetic dye worth $171.1 million in 2024, mainly to Netherlands, Germany, Belgium.
What is the HS code for synthetic dye?
Synthetic dye falls under HS heading 3204 (Synthetic organic colouring matter and preparations based thereon; synthetic organic products used as fluorescent bright). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading synthetic dye 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.
Synthetic dye trade in other countries
More trade data for the United Kingdom
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