# Adhesives and sealants: Movement

Why glue is made near users but monomers travel far

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/movement/

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 350691
 World exports $8.96 bn 118 reporting exporters · about 2.24 m t Largest exporter Germany 20.1% of world exports Largest importer China 19.4% of world imports India imports $156.0 m
exports $77.1 m #14 importer · #21 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 350691: 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 350691: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Germany** | 20.1% | $1.80 bn | 412k |
| **China** | 18.5% | $1.66 bn | 650k |
| **United States** | 12.9% | $1.15 bn | 149k |
| **Italy** | 5.8% | $517.2 m | 178k |
| **South Korea** | 5.2% | $462.6 m | 44k |
| **France** | 4.1% | $363.7 m | – |
| **Switzerland** | 3.3% | $296.3 m | 87k |
| **Japan** | 3.3% | $292.8 m | 27k |

#### HS 350691: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 19.4% | $1.58 bn | 129k |
| **Germany** | 7.7% | $627.5 m | 163k |
| **United States** | 6.3% | $515.7 m | 93k |
| **Mexico** | 5.5% | $452.2 m | 83k |
| **Canada** | 4.6% | $373.3 m | 67k |
| **Poland** | 4.3% | $353.4 m | 99k |
| **France** | 3.3% | $270.3 m | 78k |
| **Hong Kong** | 2.7% | $217.9 m | 16k |

 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** | small, probably under 15% of output (indicative, basis: most adhesives are formulated in the region of use; specialty and electronic adhesives travel further) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Drums, pails, totes and consumer packs by road and container; hot melts as pellets or blocks. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | Monomers (VAM, acrylates) move from the Gulf, China, Taiwan and the US Gulf Coast to South Asia; Hormuz and Red Sea routes matter for India's VAM imports. |  |  |
| **India** | . Pidilite exports were hit by Middle East tensions in Q4 FY26 (Indiantelevision). HS 350691: India imported $156 million (1.9% of world imports, rank 14) and exported $77 million (0.9% of world exports, rank 21) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Solvent-borne adhesives: UN1133, class 3 flammable liquid; water-borne and hot melts are generally not regulated (indicative). |  |  |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/trading/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/adhesives/links/index.md)