# Chiral and specialty building blocks: Movement

How small, valuable lots fly between Asia and the West

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

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

| 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 |

 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** | 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). |  |  |

## Other sections

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