Black and white film imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported black and white film worth $36.4 million (962 tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 167 countries. Value rose 18% on 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 14% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $103.6 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 | $36.4M | 962 t |
| 2023 | $30.9M | 895 t |
| 2022 | $34.5M | 1.3K t |
| 2021 | $31.9M | 909 t |
| 2020 | $34.4M | 811 t |
| 2019 | $33.1M | 1.1K t |
| 2018 | $38.8M | 1.2K t |
| 2017 | $103.6M | 779 t |
Where the United States imports black and white film from
Japan alone supplied 71% of it. Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | $25.8M | 71% |
| Brazil | $3.0M | 8.2% |
| Taiwan | $2.7M | 7.5% |
| United Kingdom | $1.8M | 5.1% |
| China | $1.5M | 4% |
| Austria | $576K | 1.6% |
| Germany | $210K | 0.6% |
| Bahamas | $175K | 0.5% |
| Czech Republic | $121K | 0.3% |
| South Korea | $98K | 0.3% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $37.85 per kg, 34% below the world average of $56.93, 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.
Black and white film exports from the United States
The United States exported $16.5 million of black and white film in 2024 (424 tonnes). It ranks 7th of 84 countries for exports of this product. Most of it went to Peru (18%), India (15%), Canada (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 42%. Among the main buyer markets, South Korea grew fastest (+828% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | $3.0M | 18% |
| India | $2.4M | 15% |
| Canada | $1.5M | 9.3% |
| South Africa | $1.2M | 7.4% |
| France | $983K | 5.9% |
| Mexico | $844K | 5.1% |
| Ecuador | $777K | 4.7% |
| Germany | $765K | 4.6% |
| China | $621K | 3.8% |
| South Korea | $589K | 3.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States black and white film imports (HS 3701.99): 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 3701.99: Photographic plates and film: (for other than colour photography), in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, with no side exceeding 255mm, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles.
Common questions
What is the value of black and white film imported by the United States?
The United States imported black and white film worth $36.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 962 tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 167 countries worldwide, with 6% of world imports. The value was up 18% on 2023.
Which countries supply black and white film to the United States?
Japan was the largest supplier with 71% of the value ($25.8 million), followed by Brazil (8%) and Taiwan (7%). The top three together account for 87%, out of 26 supplier countries in total. The Czech Republic grew fastest among the top ten, up 268% on the year.
What is the average import price of black and white film per kg?
The average declared import value was about $37.85 per kg in 2024, 34% below the world average of $56.93 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of black and white film to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $103.6 million in 2017 to $36.4 million in 2024, a fall of 65%. The peak was 2017 at $103.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $43.0 million a year.
Does the United States also export black and white film?
Yes. The United States exported $16.5 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Peru, India and Canada. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $19.9 million a year.
What is the HS code for black and white film?
The HS code for black and white film is subheading 3701.99. It sits in HS chapter 37 (photographic or cinematographic goods). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3701 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 States. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World black and white film trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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