Plastic waste exports in United States
United States: Plastic waste exports was 0 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0 tonnes
Change on year
down 100.0%
World rank
144th
of 167 countries
All-time high
2.18 million tonnes
in 2014
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2016
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Plastic waste exports in United States, 1991–2024
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 United States is 0 tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in United States peaked at 2.18 million tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2016.
United States ranks 144th of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 199,817 tonnes | — |
| 1992 | 183,575 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1993 | 157,791 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 1994 | 251,686 tonnes | +59.5% |
| 1995 | 316,691 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 1996 | 237,435 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1997 | 221,150 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 245,545 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1999 | 351,516 tonnes | +43.2% |
| 2000 | 556,492 tonnes | +58.3% |
| 2001 | 797,697 tonnes | +43.3% |
| 2002 | 769,567 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 852,819 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 874,293 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 1.13 million tonnes | +29.7% |
| 2006 | 1.06 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 1.39 million tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2008 | 1.61 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 2.04 million tonnes | +26.6% |
| 2010 | 2.06 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 2.15 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 2.05 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 1.94 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 2.18 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 2.05 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2019 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2020 | 624,511 tonnes | — |
| 2021 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2023 | 431,841 tonnes | — |
| 2024 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 0 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes. (64 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 240,578 tonnes | 157,791 tonnes | 351,516 tonnes | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.11 million tonnes | 556,492 tonnes | 2.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.24 million tonnes | 0 tonnes | 2.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 211,270 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 624,511 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 141 Angola 2.03 tonnes compare
- 142 East Timor 1 tonnes compare
- 143 Papua New Guinea 0.828 tonnes compare
- 144 Austria 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Bahrain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Canada 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Fiji 0 tonnes compare
- 144 France 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Germany 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Ghana 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Hungary 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Italy 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Jordan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Kazakhstan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Lebanon 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Malaysia 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Mexico 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Oman 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Qatar 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Romania 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Singapore 0 tonnes compare
- 144 South Korea 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Spain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Thailand 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Arab Emirates 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Kingdom 0 tonnes compare
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in United States?
- Plastic waste exports in United States was 0 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.18 million tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2016.
- How does United States rank for plastic waste exports?
- United States ranks 144th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.