Lithographic printing plates exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of lithographic printing plates by the United States reached $52.5 million in 2024 (692 tonnes). That makes it the 4th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 121 countries. That is 7% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $52.5M | 692 t |
| 2023 | $49.1M | 769 t |
| 2022 | $51.2M | 990 t |
| 2021 | $47.5M | 1.5K t |
| 2020 | $45.5M | 3.0K t |
| 2019 | $58.2M | 1.9K t |
| 2018 | $61.9M | 2.5K t |
| 2017 | $57.9M | 3.2K t |
Where the United States exports lithographic printing plates to
The largest buyer markets were Mexico (24%), Canada (17%), United Kingdom (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Italy grew fastest (+660% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $12.8M | 24% |
| Canada | $9.1M | 17% |
| United Kingdom | $4.4M | 8.4% |
| Jamaica | $3.5M | 6.6% |
| Dominican Republic | $3.1M | 6% |
| Italy | $2.7M | 5.1% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $1.6M | 3.1% |
| Japan | $1.0M | 2% |
| Germany | $982K | 1.9% |
| Guatemala | $880K | 1.7% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $75.92 per kg, 504% above the world average of $12.57. 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.
Lithographic printing plates imports to the United States
Imports of lithographic printing plates by the United States reached $32.4 million in 2024 (735 tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 193 countries. The largest suppliers were Switzerland (31%), Germany (22%), Canada (15%). Among the main suppliers, Netherlands grew fastest (+108% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $10.2M | 31% |
| Germany | $7.2M | 22% |
| Canada | $4.7M | 15% |
| China | $1.8M | 5.5% |
| Mexico | $1.5M | 4.7% |
| Japan | $1.2M | 3.8% |
| United Kingdom | $1.0M | 3.2% |
| Italy | $842K | 2.6% |
| Netherlands | $638K | 2% |
| South Africa | $598K | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States lithographic printing plates exports (HS 8442.50): 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 8442.50: Plates, cylinders and other printing components: lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished).
Common questions
What is the value of lithographic printing plates exported by the United States?
The United States exported lithographic printing plates worth $52.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 692 tonnes. That ranks it 4th of 121 countries worldwide, with 7% of world exports. The value was up 7% on 2023.
Which countries buy lithographic printing plates from the United States?
Mexico was the largest buyer with 24% of the value ($12.8 million), followed by Canada (17%) and the United Kingdom (8%). The top three together account for 50%, out of 113 buyer countries in total. Italy grew fastest among the top ten, up 660% on the year.
What is the average export price of lithographic printing plates per kg?
The average declared export value was about $75.92 per kg in 2024, 504% above the world average of $12.57 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of lithographic printing plates from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $57.9 million in 2017 to $52.5 million in 2024, a fall of 9%. The peak was 2018 at $61.9 million. Over 8 years the average was $53.0 million a year.
Does the United States also import lithographic printing plates?
Yes. The United States imported $32.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Switzerland, Germany and Canada. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $20.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for lithographic printing plates?
The HS code for lithographic printing plates is subheading 8442.50. It sits in HS chapter 84 (machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors; parts thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 8442 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
Same product, other countries
World lithographic printing plates trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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