Plastic waste exports in Australia
Australia: Plastic waste exports was 28,020 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
28,020 tonnes
Change on year
down 57.0%
World rank
25th
of 167 countries
All-time high
206,060 tonnes
in 2015
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2019
Years of data
37
1988–2024
Plastic waste exports in Australia, 1988–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Australia is 28,020 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 57.0% on the previous year and down 84.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Australia peaked at 206,060 tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2019.
Australia ranks 25th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1,855 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 1,654 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1990 | 2,878 tonnes | +74.0% |
| 1991 | 3,154 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1992 | 1,197 tonnes | -62.0% |
| 1993 | 2,474 tonnes | +106.6% |
| 1994 | 6,536 tonnes | +164.2% |
| 1995 | 17,366 tonnes | +165.7% |
| 1996 | 11,575 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1997 | 24,648 tonnes | +112.9% |
| 1998 | 31,135 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1999 | 34,484 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2000 | 46,732 tonnes | +35.5% |
| 2001 | 36,616 tonnes | -21.6% |
| 2002 | 48,176 tonnes | +31.6% |
| 2003 | 66,575 tonnes | +38.2% |
| 2004 | 69,098 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 87,846 tonnes | +27.1% |
| 2006 | 99,881 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 103,540 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 125,183 tonnes | +20.9% |
| 2009 | 204,739 tonnes | +63.6% |
| 2010 | 156,388 tonnes | -23.6% |
| 2011 | 151,209 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 193,087 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 2013 | 155,085 tonnes | -19.7% |
| 2014 | 185,705 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 2015 | 206,060 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2016 | 199,743 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 145,534 tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2018 | 153,831 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 100,465 tonnes | — |
| 2021 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 74,323 tonnes | — |
| 2023 | 65,105 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 28,020 tonnes | -57.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 28,020 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 6.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Australia's 28,020 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 101.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,754 tonnes | 1,654 tonnes | 1,855 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 13,545 tonnes | 1,197 tonnes | 34,484 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 88,839 tonnes | 36,616 tonnes | 204,739 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 154,664 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 206,060 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 53,583 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 100,465 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 22 Bangladesh 39,011 tonnes compare
- 23 Russia 35,846 tonnes compare
- 24 Dominican Republic 31,074 tonnes compare
- 26 New Zealand 27,275 tonnes compare
- 27 Saudi Arabia 25,779 tonnes compare
- 28 Finland 24,903 tonnes compare
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Australia?
- Plastic waste exports in Australia was 28,020 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 206,060 tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2019.
- How does Australia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Australia ranks 25th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.