🇺🇸 United States imports of printed books: 2024 trade data
Imports of printed books by the United States reached $2.26 billion in 2024 (175.2 thousand tonnes). It ranks 1st of 225 countries for imports of this product. Value rose 7% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Imports of printed books by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.26B | 175.2K t |
| 2023 | $2.11B | 160.3K t |
| 2022 | $2.50B | 191.4K t |
| 2021 | $2.02B | 153.5K t |
| 2020 | $1.57B | 134.7K t |
| 2019 | $2.04B | 194.0K t |
| 2018 | $2.02B | 191.8K t |
| 2017 | $1.97B | 194.3K t |
Where the United States imports printed books from
Most of the value came from China (34%), United Kingdom (16%), Canada (13%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | $776.8M | 34% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $360.7M | 16% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $287.8M | 13% |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $140.1M | 6.2% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $111.5M | 4.9% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $107.6M | 4.8% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $62.6M | 2.8% |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $59.7M | 2.6% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $39.2M | 1.7% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | $38.4M | 1.7% |
Types of printed books under HS 4901
| 4901.99 | Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91 | 91% |
| 4901.10 | Printed matter: in single sheets, whether or not folded | 9% |
| 4901.91 | Printed matter: dictionaries, encyclopaedias and serial instalments thereof | 0.2% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 4901.
Average import price of printed books
The average declared value was about $12.90 per kg, 37% above the world average of $9.39. 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 States also exports printed books
In 2024, the United States exported printed books worth $1.78 billion (129.8 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 223 countries for exports of this product. The largest buyer markets were Canada (35%), United Kingdom (14%), Mexico (10%). Among the main buyer markets, France grew fastest (+108% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $620.9M | 35% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $256.1M | 14% |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $175.0M | 9.8% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $60.2M | 3.4% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $43.7M | 2.5% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $42.3M | 2.4% |
| 🇫🇷 France | $36.4M | 2% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $34.3M | 1.9% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | $31.0M | 1.7% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $30.3M | 1.7% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
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 4901: Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets.
Printed books trade in the United States: questions
What is the value of printed books imported by the United States?
The United States imported printed books worth $2.26 billion in 2024 (175.2 thousand tonnes).
Where does the United States import printed books from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were China (34%), United Kingdom (16%), Canada (13%).
What is the average import price of printed books in the United States?
The average declared import value was about $12.90 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $9.39 per kg.
Does the United States export printed books?
Yes. The United States exported printed books worth $1.78 billion in 2024, mainly to Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico.
What is the HS code for printed books?
Printed books falls under HS heading 4901 (Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading printed books with the United States?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, where you can see the importers and exporters by name.
Printed books trade in other countries
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