Small-molecule APIs: Movement
How API drums move from Chinese ports to Indian plants
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 2941
World exports $10.0 bn 92 reporting exporters · about 131k t Largest exporter China 43.1% of world exports Largest importer India 18.9% of world imports India imports $1.94 bnexports $1.06 bn #1 importer · #2 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 2941: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 2941: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 43.1% | $4.31 bn | 87k |
| India | 10.6% | $1.06 bn | 14k |
| Switzerland | 8.6% | $856.6 m | 562 |
| Italy | 8.4% | $843.4 m | 3,648 |
| United States | 7.4% | $736.5 m | 2,575 |
| Spain | 4.1% | $408.2 m | 8,633 |
| Belgium | 2.5% | $251.2 m | 980 |
| Denmark | 1.8% | $183.5 m | 282 |
HS 2941: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 18.9% | $1.94 bn | – |
| Italy | 12% | $1.23 bn | 7,266 |
| United States | 7% | $715.7 m | 11k |
| China | 6.4% | $656.0 m | 913 |
| France | 4.2% | $425.6 m | 2,301 |
| Brazil | 3.7% | $383.4 m | 7,592 |
| Germany | 3.3% | $335.5 m | 1,633 |
| Spain | 2.9% | $292.6 m | 3,710 |
HS 2942: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 71.3% | $1.25 bn | 29k |
| United States | 6.3% | $109.7 m | 12k |
| Italy | 3.6% | $63.5 m | 2,061 |
| France | 2.8% | $48.6 m | 6,374 |
| China | 2.1% | $37.2 m | 5,849 |
| Denmark | 1.4% | $24.8 m | 990 |
| Germany | 1.2% | $21.6 m | 386 |
| Singapore | 1.1% | $19.0 m | 111 |
HS 2942: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 34.6% | $371.4 m | 13k |
| United States | 8.6% | $92.7 m | 7,446 |
| Italy | 4% | $42.6 m | 2,196 |
| Japan | 3% | $32.5 m | 18k |
| China | 2.9% | $31.6 m | 1,220 |
| Canada | 2.8% | $30.0 m | 4,473 |
| South Korea | 2.8% | $29.7 m | 622 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2.6% | $27.4 m | 2,020 |
HS 2933: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 36.4% | $33.3 bn | – |
| Ireland | 18.2% | $16.7 bn | 4,840 |
| China | 12.4% | $11.3 bn | 1.88 m |
| India | 5.8% | $5.31 bn | 113k |
| Germany | 3.7% | $3.41 bn | 131k |
| France | 3.5% | $3.16 bn | 34k |
| Spain | 3.3% | $3.03 bn | 50k |
| United States | 2.5% | $2.30 bn | 122k |
HS 2933: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 21.5% | $20.2 bn | 33k |
| United States | 13.3% | $12.4 bn | 272k |
| Germany | 12.8% | $12.0 bn | – |
| Italy | 9.5% | $8.87 bn | 187k |
| Ireland | 4.6% | $4.34 bn | 5,913 |
| Brazil | 4% | $3.72 bn | 240k |
| United Kingdom | 3% | $2.85 bn | – |
| China | 2.9% | $2.72 bn | 222k |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | high: most API is made in India, China and Europe and used elsewhere (indicative) | ||
| How it moves | Powder in fibre drums or double polyethylene-lined drums of 25-50 kg, shipped by sea container or air for high-value APIs; cold chain for some | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | China to India (Shanghai, Ningbo to Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Visakhapatnam); India and China to US and EU. HS 2941, 2942, 2933. | ||
| India | Bulk drug and intermediates imports Rs 37,722 crore in 2023-24, over 70% from China (official data via ORF); April-May 2024 imports $1.44 billion, up 13% (Pharmexcil via India Seatrade News). | ||
| Handling in transit | Most APIs are not dangerous goods; toxic ones ship as UN2811 (toxic solid, class 6.1) and some as UN3077 (class 9). Controlled substances need import and export permits. |