Product intelligence · HS 190590 · 2024 data

Food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products

Global exports of food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products totalled $36,384,053,689 in 2024, a +5.0% change from the previous year. Traded by 187 countries across 8,570 bilateral corridors, with demand from 200 importing markets. The long-term trend is rapid growth.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$36.4B

+5.0% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

+10.6%

5Y: +9.8%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.054

Volatility

Low

Score 8/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products trade exhibited modest growth, with global flows reaching $36,384,053,689 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of +10.6% (five-year: +9.8%). The all-time peak of $36,384,053,689 was recorded in 2024.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 83% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a predominantly expanding market. Trend momentum is strengthening (+3.6% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products as "Two-way vertical trade" in the high price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.054). The three largest exporters — Canada ($4.2B), Germany ($3.9B), and Italy ($2.8B) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +16.5% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.066). The three largest import markets are United States ($7.4B), United Kingdom ($3.0B), and Germany ($2.7B). The largest importing market sources from 122 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -9.88. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is Canada → United States at $4.1B, representing 55.6% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products is 8 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, modest but steady demand provides a reasonable entry window. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $36,384,053,689 in 2024.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$17,507,683,544-5.1%
2016$18,545,095,966+5.9%
2017$19,767,310,678+6.6%
2018$21,967,100,000+11.1%
2019$22,753,679,392+3.6%
2020$23,086,217,364+1.5%
2021$26,876,376,227+16.4%
2022$30,342,862,955+12.9%
2023$34,656,193,273+14.2%
2024$36,384,053,689+5.0%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products in 2024.

View all 187 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products.

View all 200 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for food preparations: bakers\' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1CanadaUnited States$4.1B+16.8%
2MexicoUnited States$1.3B+17.3%
3United StatesCanada$1.3B+5.8%
4IrelandUnited Kingdom$591.3M+12.0%
5FranceUnited Kingdom$540.0M+12.2%
6GermanyAustria$499.5M+7.6%
7ItalyFrance$468.1M+6.5%
8FranceGermany$459.8M+8.3%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.