Product intelligence · HS 490300 · 2024 data

Printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books

Global exports of printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books totalled $1,497,033,625 in 2024, a +4.3% change from the previous year. Traded by 161 countries across 4,165 bilateral corridors, with demand from 193 importing markets. The long-term trend is declining.

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

Global trade

$1.5B

+4.3% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

-3.6%

5Y: +2.7%

Supply structure

Concentrated

HHI 0.478

Volatility

Low

Score 4/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books trade exhibited modest growth, with global flows reaching $1,497,033,625 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of -3.6% (five-year: +2.7%). The all-time peak of $1,669,854,993 was recorded in 2021; the current level is 10% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 66% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a predominantly expanding market. Trend momentum is decelerating (-6.4% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books as "One-way trade" in the low price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is concentrated (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.478). The three largest exporters — China ($1.0B), Germany ($72.9M), and Poland ($47.4M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at -0.1% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.136). The three largest import markets are United States ($499.1M), Hong Kong ($117.8M), and United Kingdom ($108.3M). The largest importing market sources from 76 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -4.25. Buyers have moderate flexibility to shift sourcing, but face some switching costs.

The dominant trade corridor is China → United States at $449.7M, representing 90.1% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books is 4 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 concentrated supply structure suggests high barriers but also potential opportunity if dominant suppliers face disruption or capacity constraints.

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

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $1,669,854,993 in 2021. Currently 10% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$1,037,831,170-8.1%
2016$1,099,733,623+6.0%
2017$1,044,658,439-5.0%
2018$1,153,005,895+10.4%
2019$1,309,064,177+13.5%
2020$1,390,204,918+6.2%
2021$1,669,854,993+20.1%
2022$1,578,524,427-5.5%
2023$1,435,690,588-9.0%
2024$1,497,033,625+4.3%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books in 2024.

View all 161 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books.

View all 193 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for printed matter: children\'s picture, drawing or colouring books, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1ChinaUnited States$449.7M-3.6%
2ChinaHong Kong$116.2M-5.1%
3ChinaUnited Kingdom$81.9M+3.2%
4ChinaFrance$38.8M+12.6%
5ChinaCanada$35.8M-1.2%
6ChinaGermany$35.1M+4.6%
7ChinaNetherlands$31.3M+15.5%
8PolandGermany$27.6M-26.6%

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.