Chiral and specialty building blocks: Movement
How small, valuable lots fly between Asia and the West
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 2922
World exports $15.5 bn 108 reporting exporters · about 6.06 m t Largest exporter China 40.5% of world exports Largest importer United States 12.3% of world imports India imports $846.2 mexports $755.5 m #3 importer · #5 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 2922: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 2922: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 40.5% | $6.27 bn | 3.78 m |
| Germany | 6.6% | $1.02 bn | 231k |
| United Kingdom | 6.3% | $980.6 m | 22k |
| United States | 6.1% | $937.8 m | 305k |
| India | 4.9% | $755.5 m | 79k |
| Netherlands | 4.4% | $674.7 m | 335k |
| Belgium | 3.5% | $544.6 m | 161k |
| Switzerland | 3.4% | $525.6 m | – |
HS 2922: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 12.3% | $1.87 bn | 503k |
| Germany | 7.4% | $1.12 bn | 235k |
| India | 5.6% | $846.2 m | – |
| Japan | 4.9% | $747.6 m | 230k |
| Netherlands | 4.8% | $721.8 m | 368k |
| Italy | 4.4% | $666.9 m | 166k |
| France | 3.5% | $536.4 m | – |
| Spain | 3.4% | $519.4 m | – |
HS 2932: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 30.7% | $2.98 bn | 404k |
| Germany | 21.6% | $2.10 bn | 45k |
| Switzerland | 6.4% | $619.6 m | – |
| United States | 6.1% | $595.9 m | 34k |
| Italy | 4.6% | $448.3 m | 13k |
| France | 4.3% | $417.8 m | 25k |
| India | 3.8% | $372.3 m | 17k |
| Ireland | 3.1% | $303.3 m | 1,992 |
HS 2932: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 31.6% | $4.01 bn | 83k |
| Greece | 8.2% | $1.04 bn | 620 |
| China | 7.3% | $927.6 m | 13k |
| Germany | 6% | $764.2 m | 57k |
| Japan | 5.2% | $662.2 m | 38k |
| France | 3.8% | $485.7 m | – |
| India | 3.7% | $466.3 m | 68k |
| Brazil | 3.5% | $443.3 m | 23k |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | high for merchant blocks: China and India export to Western drug makers (indicative) | ||
| How it moves | Powders and liquids in drums and fibre drums by air or container; small, high-value lots. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | China to India, Europe and the US; India to the US and Europe; mostly via Shanghai, Ningbo, Nhava Sheva and air freight. | ||
| India | India imports many intermediates under HS 2922 and 2932 from China and exports finished APIs. HS 2922: India imported $846 million (5.6% of world imports, rank 3) and exported $755 million (4.9% of world exports, rank 5); HS 2932: India imported $466 million (3.7% of world imports, rank 7) and exported $372 million (3.8% of world exports, rank 7) (UN Comtrade 2024). | ||
| Handling in transit | Most are not dangerous goods; some amines and epoxides are corrosive or flammable (class 8 or 3). |