This list reveals the top 10 glass importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world glass imports totaled US$73.8 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $1.9 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $262.2 million
2. Algeria: $239.8 million
3. Morocco: $229.6 million
4. Egypt: $152.9 million
5. Tunisia: $93 million
6. Nigeria: $75.8 million
7. Ethiopia: $74.6 million
8. Kenya: $67.8 million
9. Ghana: $66.7 million
10. Djibouti: $54.2 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $22.9 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. China: $7.2 billion
2. South Korea: $2.3 billion
3. Japan: $2.3 billion
4. Hong Kong: $2 billion
5. Taiwan: $1.5 billion
6. Vietnam: $1.2 billion
7. Thailand: $959.8 million
8. India: $925.2 million
9. Malaysia: $891.5 million
10. Turkey: $844.6 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $28.3 billion worth of glass led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $6.3 billion
2. France: $3.5 billion
3. United Kingdom: $2.5 billion
4. Italy: $2 billion
5. Belgium: $1.84 billion
6. Spain: $1.82 billion
7. Netherlands: $1.6 billion
8. Poland: $1.2 billion
9. Austria: $1 billion
10. Czech Republic: $921.8 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $2.2 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $443.1 million
2. Argentina: $281.5 million
3. Colombia: $200.9 million
4. Chile: $186.5 million
5. Peru: $178.2 million
6. Dominican Rep: $120.4 million
7. Ecuador: $111.5 million
8. Guatemala: $77.8 million
9. Panama: $67.7 million
10. Costa Rica: $58.2 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $2.5 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $621.2 million
2. Saudi Arabia: $399.9 million
3. Iran: $330.9 million
4. Israel: $291.7 million
5. Kuwait: $158.7 million
6. Iraq: $154.1 million
7. Lebanon: $112.4 million
8. Qatar: $98.5 million
9. Oman: $83.5 million
10. Jordan: $70.6 million
North American Importers
North America imported $12.1 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. United States: $7.9 billion
2. Canada: $2.6 billion
3. Mexico: $1.5 billion
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $1.1 billion worth of glass led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $775.2 million
2. New Zealand: $244.7 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $12.6 million
4. Fiji: $7 million
5. French Polynesia: $5.29 million
6. New Caledonia: $5.27 million
7. Samoa: $3.1 million
8. Solomon Islands: $2 million
9. Vanuatu: $1 million
10. Tonga: $594,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing glass importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported glass was 0.6%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Glass Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Glass Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
