ABS: Movement

Korean and Taiwanese pellets by container

What this tab covers How it moves between countries: share of output traded, physical form and transport, the largest exporters and importers, main routes, India's trade, and handling rules in transit.

Trade in 2024 UN Comtrade, HS 390330

World exports $4.92 bn 81 reporting exporters · about 2.82 m t Largest exporter South Korea 40% of world exports Largest importer China 23.2% of world imports India imports $255.4 m
exports $1.58 m #8 importer · #36 exporter

Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 390330: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

HS 390330: largest exporters

Country	Share	Value (US$)	Tonnes
South Korea	40%	$1.97 bn	1.10 m
Malaysia	8.3%	$407.0 m	376k
China	7.7%	$376.7 m	217k
Netherlands	6.5%	$318.8 m	153k
United States	6.2%	$305.0 m	145k
Hong Kong	6.1%	$299.4 m	179k
Spain	3%	$147.5 m	58k
Italy	2.8%	$137.4 m	–

HS 390330: largest importers

Country	Share	Value (US$)	Tonnes
China	23.2%	$1.49 bn	1.02 m
United States	6.5%	$416.8 m	185k
Germany	6.1%	$391.8 m	183k
Mexico	5.7%	$365.7 m	199k
Türkiye	4.4%	$283.0 m	153k
Hong Kong	4.2%	$269.0 m	162k
Malaysia	4.1%	$262.3 m	–
India	4%	$255.4 m	148k

UN Comtrade 2024, reported by each country (exports by exporters, imports by importers), all partners. Some countries (for example Russia and Iran) do not report, so their shares are missing. HS codes can be broader than the tile: check the code before reading a share as the whole market.

How it moves

Measure	Figure
Share traded	about 30-40% of output crosses borders (indicative, basis: large Korean and Taiwanese export industries)
How it moves	Pellets in 25 kg bags or 1 t bulk bags in containers; not dangerous goods. Freight is small relative to price, so ABS trades widely, but compounding is often done near the customer.
Routes and chokepoints	Korea and Taiwan to China, Southeast Asia and India by container; Gulf to Asia and Europe through Hormuz and Suez.
India	India imports ABS mainly from Korea, Taiwan and China (indicative). HS 390330: India imported $255 million (4.0% of world imports, rank 8) and exported $2 million (0.0% of world exports, rank 36) (UN Comtrade 2024).
Handling in transit	Not regulated as dangerous goods. Dust explosion risk in handling; releases toxic fumes, including hydrogen cyanide, when burned.