Antibiotic intermediates (6-APA, 7-ACA): Movement
Why penicillin powders need dedicated handling in transit
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 294110
World exports $1.86 bn 60 reporting exporters · about 48k t Largest exporter China 50.6% of world exports Largest importer India 34.4% of world imports India imports $761.7 mexports $319.6 m #1 importer · #2 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 294110: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 294110: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 50.6% | $941.0 m | 30k |
| India | 17.2% | $319.6 m | 8,425 |
| Spain | 11.7% | $217.0 m | 5,530 |
| Italy | 5.6% | $103.2 m | 680 |
| Austria | 5.2% | $96.7 m | 1,665 |
| Singapore | 3.9% | $73.1 m | – |
| Netherlands | 1.4% | $26.7 m | 746 |
| United Kingdom | 0.8% | $15.6 m | 278 |
HS 294110: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 34.4% | $761.7 m | – |
| Austria | 6.8% | $151.4 m | 2,917 |
| Brazil | 4% | $88.6 m | 2,596 |
| United Kingdom | 4% | $87.8 m | 2,025 |
| Italy | 3.9% | $87.3 m | 3,377 |
| Algeria | 3.9% | $86.3 m | 2,101 |
| United States | 3.6% | $79.1 m | 1,493 |
| Thailand | 3.2% | $71.2 m | 2,154 |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | high for India (most 6-APA and 7-ACA imported) | ||
| How it moves | Powders in drums by container; dedicated handling to avoid penicillin cross-contamination | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | Northern Chinese plants to Indian ports. HS 294110. | ||
| India | 87% of India's antibiotic imports from China (Trade Map via ORF, Dec 2025). | ||
| Handling in transit | Generally not dangerous goods; respiratory sensitisers requiring dust control. |