UN Comtrade • Latest complete year: 2024
90 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories (HS 90)
Global exports
$668.78B
Global imports
$652.48B
Top exporter share
15.9%
Top importer share
19.1%
- In 2024, the global trade of Optical, photographic, and medical instruments saw exports of $668.8B and imports of $652.5B.
- The leading exporter was the United States, shipping $106.3B worth of goods, which accounts for a 15.9% share of the world's total.
- Germany followed as the second-largest exporter with $83.0B in exports, making up 12.4% of the global market.
- The United States was also the top importer, with imports valued at $124.8B, representing 19.1% of total global imports.
- China was the second-largest importer, purchasing $74.9B, which corresponds to an 11.5% share of the global import market.
Global Exports Overview
In 2024, the total global exports for product category HS2 90, covering optical, photographic, and medical instruments, reached a substantial $668.8B. The market is led by a few key countries, with the top three exporters accounting for a significant portion of the trade. The United States is the dominant force, with exports valued at $106.3B (15.9%). Germany and China are also major players, with export shares of 12.4% and 10.8% respectively.
See also: United StatesGermanyChina
Key Importing Nations
On the import side, global trade for these instruments totaled $652.5B in 2024. The United States stands out as the largest importer with purchases of $124.8B, a 19.1% share of the total. Following the United States, China and Germany are significant importers. China's imports were $74.9B (11.5%), and Germany's were $48.3B (7.4%). The Netherlands and Japan also feature as top importers, with shares of 5.8% and 4.2% respectively.
See also: NetherlandsJapan
Quick insights
- USA is the top exporter (15.9% of reported exports).
- USA is the top importer (19.1% of reported imports).
- Top 3 exporter concentration: 39.1%.
- Top 5 exporter concentration: 51.5%.
Notes: Shares are relative to reported totals in the dataset for the selected year.
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Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories - 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
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories - 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
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories - 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: 2026-01-12T08:07:49Z • Snapshot: 20251222
HS4 subcategories within HS 90 for 2024 (partner = World). Values are summed across reporting economies; coverage varies by reporter and year.
Exports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.7%
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9018 | Instruments and appliances used… | $174.57B | 26.1% |
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances; includi… | $79.63B | 11.9% |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instrumen… | $61.09B | 9.1% |
| 9027 | Instruments and apparatus; for… | $54.96B | 8.2% |
| 9032 | Regulating or controlling instr… | $34.79B | 5.2% |
| 9030 | Instruments, apparatus for meas… | $33.52B | 5.0% |
| 9001 | Optical fibres and optical fibr… | $29.07B | 4.3% |
| 9026 | Instruments, apparatus for meas… | $27.25B | 4.1% |
| 9022 | Apparatus based on the use of x… | $26.54B | 4.0% |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy, massage applia… | $18.05B | 2.7% |
| 9002 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors and oth… | $16.63B | 2.5% |
| 9013 | Lasers, other than laser diodes… | $14.58B | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9016 | Balances; of a sensitivity of 5… | 13.3% | $627.73M |
| 9012 | Microscopes (excluding optical… | 10.0% | $4.64B |
| 9008 | Image projectors, other than ci… | 9.3% | $389.16M |
| 9025 | Hydrometers and similar floatin… | 6.7% | $8.06B |
| 9004 | Spectacles, goggles and the lik… | 6.3% | $13.66B |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy, massage applia… | 5.9% | $18.05B |
| 9018 | Instruments and appliances used… | 5.7% | $174.57B |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instrumen… | 5.6% | $61.09B |
Imports
Coverage vs HS2: 99.6%
Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9018 | Instruments and appliances used… | $171.09B | 26.2% |
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances; includi… | $80.10B | 12.3% |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instrumen… | $59.46B | 9.1% |
| 9027 | Instruments and apparatus; for… | $52.79B | 8.1% |
| 9032 | Regulating or controlling instr… | $36.33B | 5.6% |
| 9030 | Instruments, apparatus for meas… | $28.42B | 4.4% |
| 9001 | Optical fibres and optical fibr… | $27.78B | 4.3% |
| 9026 | Instruments, apparatus for meas… | $27.43B | 4.2% |
| 9022 | Apparatus based on the use of x… | $25.71B | 3.9% |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy, massage applia… | $17.51B | 2.7% |
| 9002 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors and oth… | $15.34B | 2.4% |
| 9013 | Lasers, other than laser diodes… | $14.64B | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9012 | Microscopes (excluding optical… | 9.8% | $5.44B |
| 9016 | Balances; of a sensitivity of 5… | 5.3% | $513.29M |
| 9025 | Hydrometers and similar floatin… | 5.0% | $8.01B |
| 9018 | Instruments and appliances used… | 4.9% | $171.09B |
| 9019 | Mechano-therapy, massage applia… | 4.5% | $17.51B |
| 9021 | Orthopaedic appliances; includi… | 4.4% | $80.10B |
| 9005 | Binoculars, monoculars, other o… | 4.3% | $1.60B |
| 9031 | Measuring or checking instrumen… | 4.3% | $59.46B |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico (MEX) | USA (USA) | $27.40B | 4.1% |
| China (CHN) | USA (USA) | $12.60B | 1.9% |
| Germany (DEU) | USA (USA) | $12.41B | 1.9% |
| USA (USA) | Netherlands (NLD) | $11.74B | 1.8% |
| USA (USA) | Mexico (MEX) | $11.31B | 1.7% |
| USA (USA) | China (CHN) | $11.22B | 1.7% |
| USA (USA) | Canada (CAN) | $10.78B | 1.6% |
| Germany (DEU) | China (CHN) | $8.78B | 1.3% |
| Ireland (IRL) | USA (USA) | $8.31B | 1.2% |
| Germany (DEU) | Netherlands (NLD) | $8.21B | 1.2% |
| Japan (JPN) | China (CHN) | $8.21B | 1.2% |
| Japan (JPN) | USA (USA) | $8.05B | 1.2% |
| USA (USA) | Japan (JPN) | $7.07B | 1.1% |
| USA (USA) | Germany (DEU) | $6.78B | 1.0% |
| China, Hong Kong SAR (HKG) | China (CHN) | $6.69B | 1.0% |
Data notes & methodology
Source: UN Comtrade
Exports total: $668.78B • Imports total: $652.48B
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