Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

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 m
exports $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

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
China40.5%$6.27 bn3.78 m
Germany6.6%$1.02 bn231k
United Kingdom6.3%$980.6 m22k
United States6.1%$937.8 m305k
India4.9%$755.5 m79k
Netherlands4.4%$674.7 m335k
Belgium3.5%$544.6 m161k
Switzerland3.4%$525.6 m–

HS 2922: largest importers

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
United States12.3%$1.87 bn503k
Germany7.4%$1.12 bn235k
India5.6%$846.2 m–
Japan4.9%$747.6 m230k
Netherlands4.8%$721.8 m368k
Italy4.4%$666.9 m166k
France3.5%$536.4 m–
Spain3.4%$519.4 m–

HS 2932: largest exporters

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
China30.7%$2.98 bn404k
Germany21.6%$2.10 bn45k
Switzerland6.4%$619.6 m–
United States6.1%$595.9 m34k
Italy4.6%$448.3 m13k
France4.3%$417.8 m25k
India3.8%$372.3 m17k
Ireland3.1%$303.3 m1,992

HS 2932: largest importers

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
United States31.6%$4.01 bn83k
Greece8.2%$1.04 bn620
China7.3%$927.6 m13k
Germany6%$764.2 m57k
Japan5.2%$662.2 m38k
France3.8%$485.7 m–
India3.7%$466.3 m68k
Brazil3.5%$443.3 m23k
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

MeasureFigure
Share tradedhigh for merchant blocks: China and India export to Western drug makers (indicative)
How it movesPowders and liquids in drums and fibre drums by air or container; small, high-value lots.
Routes and chokepointsChina to India, Europe and the US; India to the US and Europe; mostly via Shanghai, Ningbo, Nhava Sheva and air freight.
IndiaIndia 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 transitMost are not dangerous goods; some amines and epoxides are corrosive or flammable (class 8 or 3).