Product intelligence · HS 847230 · 2024 data

Office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps

Global exports of office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps totalled $226,259,470 in 2024, a +11.7% change from the previous year. Traded by 95 countries across 1,022 bilateral corridors, with demand from 169 importing markets. The long-term trend is declining.

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

Global trade

$226.3M

+11.7% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

-3.1%

5Y: -3.9%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.098

Volatility

Low

Score 6/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps trade exhibited strong growth, with global flows reaching $226,259,470 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of -3.1% (five-year: -3.9%). The all-time peak of $703,226,598 was recorded in 2007; the current level is 68% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 48% of years recorded positive growth, indicating significant cyclicality with frequent contractions. Trend momentum is steady (+1.2% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps as "One-way 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 0.098). The three largest exporters — Germany ($45.2M), Switzerland ($31.3M), and United Kingdom ($29.6M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at -12.1% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.149). The three largest import markets are United States ($78.1M), France ($26.1M), and Germany ($16.7M). The largest importing market sources from 28 different supplying countries.

The dominant trade corridor is Germany → United States at $16.6M, representing 21.3% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps is 6 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, strong demand tailwinds create a favourable entry environment. 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: $703,226,598 in 2007. Currently 68% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$298,034,807-15.2%
2016$313,579,336+5.2%
2017$311,592,245-0.6%
2018$263,488,141-15.4%
2019$275,647,827+4.6%
2020$238,971,891-13.3%
2021$248,697,254+4.1%
2022$235,805,157-5.2%
2023$202,612,759-14.1%
2024$226,259,470+11.7%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps in 2024.

View all 95 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps.

View all 169 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for office machines: for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1GermanyUnited States$16.6M-1.1%
2United KingdomUnited States$15.9M+2.4%
3HungaryFrance$14.1M+4687.4%
4SwitzerlandUnited States$9.0M+14.5%
5ItalyUnited States$8.6M+1.7%
6SwitzerlandGermany$8.6M+40.3%
7FranceUnited States$6.0M+604.3%
8MexicoUnited States$5.7M+1.9%

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.