Autocatalysts: Movement
Why precious metals fly while catalyst bricks go by road
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 381512
World exports $11.9 bn 63 reporting exporters · about 89k t Largest exporter Germany 22.7% of world exports Largest importer Germany 28.6% of world imports India imports $201.0 mexports $35.2 m #12 importer · #23 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 381512: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 381512: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 22.7% | $2.70 bn | 14k |
| United States | 13.4% | $1.59 bn | 20k |
| North Macedonia | 13.2% | $1.57 bn | 8,240 |
| Poland | 12.3% | $1.46 bn | 11k |
| Canada | 4.8% | $571.6 m | 2,764 |
| France | 4.4% | $518.3 m | 8,821 |
| Japan | 4.2% | $504.1 m | 2,295 |
| Sweden | 4% | $470.9 m | 1,193 |
HS 381512: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 28.6% | $3.25 bn | 19k |
| Mexico | 14.6% | $1.66 bn | 18k |
| United States | 7.8% | $884.0 m | 5,564 |
| China | 7.2% | $824.6 m | 4,478 |
| Czechia | 6.9% | $780.3 m | 6,350 |
| Portugal | 4.4% | $499.3 m | 5,896 |
| Poland | 3.9% | $440.6 m | 7,005 |
| Japan | 2.6% | $300.9 m | 1,399 |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | high for metal; coated bricks often made in the country of vehicle assembly (indicative) | ||
| How it moves | Coated bricks in crates by road and container; PGMs by secure air freight; spent converters as scrap | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | PGMs from South Africa and Russia to Europe, China, Japan, the US and India; scrap converters from the US and Europe to refiners in Belgium, the UK, Germany and the US. | ||
| India | India imports all PGMs and some coated catalysts. HS 381512: India imported $201 million (1.8% of world imports, rank 12) and exported $35 million (0.3% of world exports, rank 23) (UN Comtrade 2024). | ||
| Handling in transit | Coated catalysts not dangerous goods; theft risk for scrap converters. |