The Netherlands was the world's largest importer of plastic waste in 2022, accounting for nearly 20 percent of total shipments. Up until recently, developing countries were typically the main destination for global plastic waste, but export bans to China and changes to the Basel Convention have seen shipments to non-OECD countries drop significantly.
Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country
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Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country
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Based on total global imports of 4.92 million metric tons
Supplementary notes
Figures were calculated by Statista according to the values provided by the source.
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UN Comtrade. (August 3, 2023). Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved March 02, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/
UN Comtrade. "Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country." Chart. August 3, 2023. Statista. Accessed March 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/
UN Comtrade. (2023). Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: March 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/
UN Comtrade. "Distribution of Leading Plastic Waste Importers Worldwide in 2022, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 3 Aug 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/
UN Comtrade, Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/ (last visited March 02, 2025)
Distribution of leading plastic waste importers worldwide in 2022, by country [Graph], UN Comtrade, August 3, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1127268/plastics-waste-import-shares-by-country-worldwide/
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