Photographic Film Prices in the United States

U.S. Photographic Film Import Price in July 2022

In July 2022, the photographic film price amounted to $1.2 per square meter (CIF, US), declining by -14.7% against the previous month. Overall, the import price showed a abrupt shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2022 an increase of 180% month-to-month. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $4.0K per thousand square meters. From April 2022 to July 2022, the average import prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In July 2022, the country with the highest price was Germany ($5.3 per square meter), while the price for France ($97 per thousand square meters) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+25.0%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Photographic Film Import Prices by Type

Prices varied noticeably by the product type; the product with the highest price was photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs ($10 per square meter), while the price for photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed ($762 per thousand square meters) was amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed (+6.8%), while the prices for the other products experienced a decline.

U.S. Photographic Film Imports

In August 2022, after two months of growth, there was significant decline in supplies from abroad of photographic plates and film, photographic paper, paperboard and textiles and instant print film, sensitized, unexposed, when their volume decreased by -49.8% to 29M square meters. Over the period under review, imports showed a pronounced downturn. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in April 2022 with an increase of 204% month-to-month. Over the period under review, imports reached the maximum at 58M square meters in July 2022, and then dropped dramatically in the following month.

In value terms, photographic film imports reduced to $63M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. In general, imports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in July 2022 with an increase of 20% against the previous month. Imports peaked at 81M square meters in April 2022; however, from May 2022 to August 2022, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

U.S. Photographic Film Imports by Type

In August 2022, photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed (24M square meters) constituted the largest type of photographic film supplied to the United States, with a 84% share of total imports. Moreover, photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs (4.3M square meters), sixfold.

From January 2022 to August 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of import of photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed totaled -4.2%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs (+2.7% per month) and photographic paper, paperboard and textiles; sensitised, unexposed (+1.5% per month).

In value terms, photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs ($43M) constituted the largest type of photographic film supplied to the United States, comprising 69% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by photographic film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in rolls, sensitised, unexposed ($19M), with a 30% share of total imports.

U.S. Photographic Film Imports by Country

France (23M square meters), Japan (20M square meters) and China (6.1M square meters) were the main suppliers of photographic film imports to the United States, together comprising 86% of total imports. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Mexico lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 12%.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by the Netherlands (with a CAGR of +31.5%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Japan ($35M) constituted the largest supplier of photographic film to the United States, comprising 50% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Belgium ($9.8M), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by the Netherlands, with an 11% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of value from Japan totaled -2.1%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Belgium (+13.9% per month) and the Netherlands (+14.3% per month).

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform