UN Comtrade • Latest complete year: 2024
49 - Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans (HS 49)
Global exports
$33.20B
Global imports
$33.90B
Top exporter share
12.8%
Top importer share
16.5%
- In 2024, global exports of Printed Books and Media totaled $33.2B, with imports reaching $33.9B.
- China was the leading exporter, with shipments valued at $4.2B, accounting for 12.8% of the global market.
- The United States was the largest importer, receiving $5.6B in goods, which constitutes 16.5% of total world imports.
- Germany held a strong position in both exports and imports, ranking third in exports ($3.5B) and second in imports ($2.8B).
- The top three exporters—China, the United States, and Germany—collectively supplied over 34% of the world's total exports for this category.
Global Trade Overview for Printed Materials
In 2024, the international market for products under HS2 code 49, which includes printed books, newspapers, and pictures, saw total exports of $33.2B and imports of $33.9B. The trade is characterized by a few major players who dominate the global export landscape.
Top Exporters and Importers
The world's leading exporter of these goods was China, with exports amounting to $4.2B. Following closely were the United States, with $3.7B in exports, and Germany, with $3.5B. On the import side, the United States was the primary destination, with an import value of $5.6B, representing 16.5% of the global total. Other significant importers were Germany, which imported $2.8B worth of goods, and Canada at $1.9B.
See also: ChinaUnited StatesGermanyCanada
Quick insights
- China is the top exporter (12.8% of reported exports).
- USA is the top importer (16.5% of reported imports).
- Top 3 exporter concentration: 34.6%.
- Top 5 exporter concentration: 50.3%.
Notes: Shares are relative to reported totals in the dataset for the selected year.
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Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans - product groups (4-digit) by top countries (Exports), 2024 (USD)
Top 10 countries with the leading 6 product groups (4-digit); remainder grouped as Other.
Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans - country rank by trade value (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)
Ranks show the top 10 countries by latest-year value (rank 1 is largest).
Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
Global export trend
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans - exports over time (Exports), 2015-2024 (USD)
Annual reported exports across available years.
Flow: Exports | Years: 2015-2024 | Unit: USD | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
HS4 drilldown
Built: 2026-01-12T08:07:47Z • Snapshot: 20251222
HS4 subcategories within HS 49 for 2024 (partner = World). Values are summed across reporting economies; coverage varies by reporter and year.
Exports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.5%
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans - top 4-digit product groups by export share (Exports), 2024 (USD)
Leading 4-digit product groups by export value.
Flow: Exports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
| HS4 | Subcategory | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4901 | Printed books, brochures, leafl… | $14.69B | 44.3% |
| 4911 | Printed matter, n.e.c., includi… | $10.49B | 31.6% |
| 4902 | Newspapers, journals and period… | $2.12B | 6.4% |
| 4907 | Unused postage, revenue or simi… | $1.86B | 5.6% |
| 4903 | Children's picture, drawing or… | $1.17B | 3.5% |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | $1.09B | 3.3% |
| 4909 | Printed or illustrated postcard… | $868.04M | 2.6% |
| 4910 | Calendars of any kind, printed,… | $451.46M | 1.4% |
| 4905 | Maps and hydrographic or simila… | $128.35M | 0.4% |
| 4904 | Music, printed or in manuscript… | $84.40M | 0.3% |
| 4906 | Plans and drawings; for archite… | $75.35M | 0.2% |
Subcategory names are truncated; hover to see the full description.
Fastest-growing HS4 (CAGR 2019–2024)
Filter: start-year value ≥ $1.00M
| HS4 | Subcategory | CAGR | 2024 value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4907 | Unused postage, revenue or simi… | 2.6% | $1.86B |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | 1.4% | $1.09B |
| 4911 | Printed matter, n.e.c., includi… | -0.1% | $10.49B |
| 4903 | Children's picture, drawing or… | -0.5% | $1.17B |
| 4910 | Calendars of any kind, printed,… | -0.7% | $451.46M |
| 4904 | Music, printed or in manuscript… | -1.7% | $84.40M |
| 4901 | Printed books, brochures, leafl… | -2.4% | $14.69B |
| 4905 | Maps and hydrographic or simila… | -7.2% | $128.35M |
Imports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.2%
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans - top 4-digit product groups by import share (Imports), 2024 (USD)
Leading 4-digit product groups by import value.
Flow: Imports | Year: 2024 | Unit: USD | Snapshot: 20251222 | Source: UN Comtrade
Generated by TradeVedia.comSource: UN Comtrade
| HS4 | Subcategory | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4901 | Printed books, brochures, leafl… | $14.13B | 41.7% |
| 4911 | Printed matter, n.e.c., includi… | $9.85B | 29.1% |
| 4907 | Unused postage, revenue or simi… | $3.02B | 8.9% |
| 4902 | Newspapers, journals and period… | $2.17B | 6.4% |
| 4903 | Children's picture, drawing or… | $1.77B | 5.2% |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | $1.01B | 3.0% |
| 4909 | Printed or illustrated postcard… | $964.35M | 2.8% |
| 4910 | Calendars of any kind, printed,… | $484.39M | 1.4% |
| 4905 | Maps and hydrographic or simila… | $109.70M | 0.3% |
| 4904 | Music, printed or in manuscript… | $74.59M | 0.2% |
| 4906 | Plans and drawings; for archite… | $40.66M | 0.1% |
Subcategory names are truncated; hover to see the full description.
Fastest-growing HS4 (CAGR 2019–2024)
Filter: start-year value ≥ $1.00M
| HS4 | Subcategory | CAGR | 2024 value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4903 | Children's picture, drawing or… | 3.5% | $1.77B |
| 4908 | Transfers (decalcomanias) | -1.1% | $1.01B |
| 4911 | Printed matter, n.e.c., includi… | -1.5% | $9.85B |
| 4901 | Printed books, brochures, leafl… | -2.2% | $14.13B |
| 4910 | Calendars of any kind, printed,… | -2.5% | $484.39M |
| 4909 | Printed or illustrated postcard… | -5.6% | $964.35M |
| 4902 | Newspapers, journals and period… | -6.8% | $2.17B |
| 4904 | Music, printed or in manuscript… | -8.7% | $74.59M |
Explore country profiles
Jump from this HS2 product to the country trade pages for the largest exporters and importers.
Top exporters
Top trade routes
Top exporter → importer routes among the largest exporters (bounded at build-time).
| Exporter | Importer | Value | Share of exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA (USA) | Canada (CAN) | $1.60B | 4.8% |
| China (CHN) | USA (USA) | $1.59B | 4.8% |
| Netherlands (NLD) | Belgium (BEL) | $948.84M | 2.9% |
| Poland (POL) | Germany (DEU) | $870.99M | 2.6% |
| Canada (CAN) | USA (USA) | $667.01M | 2.0% |
| Germany (DEU) | Switzerland (CHE) | $593.94M | 1.8% |
| United Kingdom (GBR) | USA (USA) | $583.32M | 1.8% |
| Mexico (MEX) | USA (USA) | $574.63M | 1.7% |
| Germany (DEU) | Austria (AUT) | $514.11M | 1.5% |
| USA (USA) | Mexico (MEX) | $433.24M | 1.3% |
| Czechia (CZE) | Germany (DEU) | $423.66M | 1.3% |
| France (FRA) | Belgium (BEL) | $365.64M | 1.1% |
| China (CHN) | China, Hong Kong SAR (HKG) | $335.47M | 1.0% |
| Germany (DEU) | Poland (POL) | $324.67M | 1.0% |
| Netherlands (NLD) | Germany (DEU) | $314.37M | 0.9% |
Data notes & methodology
Source: UN Comtrade
Exports total: $33.20B • Imports total: $33.90B
Canonical: https://tradevedia.com/product/hs2/49/