# Butadiene: Movement

China's imports climb even as it builds

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

China's imports climb even as it builds 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 290124
 World exports $2.34 bn 27 reporting exporters · about 2.09 m t Largest exporter South Korea 17.9% of world exports Largest importer China 25.1% of world imports India imports $97k
exports $198.2 m #27 importer · #4 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 290124: 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 290124: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **South Korea** | 17.9% | $419.3 m | 311k |
| **Netherlands** | 11.1% | $259.6 m | 293k |
| **Germany** | 9.9% | $232.4 m | 234k |
| **India** | 8.5% | $198.2 m | 168k |
| **Singapore** | 8.4% | $197.0 m | 149k |
| **China** | 8.1% | $188.4 m | 137k |
| **Malaysia** | 8% | $187.3 m | 241k |
| **Brazil** | 6.1% | $142.0 m | 150k |

#### HS 290124: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 25.1% | $607.8 m | 431k |
| **South Korea** | 20.5% | $497.1 m | – |
| **France** | 9% | $218.1 m | 224k |
| **Malaysia** | 8.3% | $200.7 m | 146k |
| **United States** | 7.5% | $180.4 m | – |
| **Indonesia** | 4.3% | $104.1 m | 71k |
| **Germany** | 4.3% | $102.9 m | 110k |
| **Poland** | 4.2% | $102.7 m | 107k |

 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 15% of output (indicative: about 2-2.5 Mt traded) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Pressurised or semi-refrigerated liquid in LPG-type ships and ISO tanks, inhibited with TBC to prevent polymerisation. Often consumed near crackers. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | Europe and US to Asia; Korea and Japan to China. China levies an extra 10% tax on US products. |  |  |
| **India** | India trades modest volumes both ways under HS 290124; values not retrieved. |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | UN1010 butadienes, stabilised, Class 2.1 flammable gas; must carry inhibitor; peroxide formation risk. |  |  |

## Other sections

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