# Dyes: Movement

Why light, valuable dyes travel to over 90 countries

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/dyes/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 320411
 World exports $906.2 m 83 reporting exporters · about 143k t Largest exporter China 48.5% of world exports Largest importer Indonesia 13.6% of world imports India imports $19.8 m
exports $82.5 m #15 importer · #2 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 320411: 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 320411: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 48.5% | $439.9 m | 94k |
| **India** | 9.1% | $82.5 m | 17k |
| **Germany** | 6.2% | $56.3 m | 2,051 |
| **Indonesia** | 5.7% | $51.3 m | 5,577 |
| **South Korea** | 5.1% | $46.3 m | 4,964 |
| **Singapore** | 4.7% | $42.1 m | 2,247 |
| **Japan** | 4.3% | $38.8 m | 1,848 |
| **United States** | 2.3% | $21.3 m | 1,664 |

#### HS 320411: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Indonesia** | 13.6% | $108.1 m | 19k |
| **Türkiye** | 7.8% | $62.2 m | 13k |
| **South Korea** | 6.7% | $53.1 m | 11k |
| **China** | 5.8% | $46.0 m | 2,969 |
| **United States** | 5.5% | $43.8 m | 2,289 |
| **Germany** | 5.1% | $40.7 m | 2,495 |
| **Japan** | 4.9% | $38.6 m | 2,860 |
| **Pakistan** | 4.2% | $33.2 m | 10k |

#### HS 320416: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **India** | 43% | $602.5 m | 161k |
| **China** | 14.3% | $200.0 m | 40k |
| **South Korea** | 13.6% | $191.2 m | 40k |
| **Thailand** | 6.7% | $94.3 m | 9,771 |
| **Singapore** | 6.6% | $92.3 m | – |
| **Türkiye** | 3.1% | $42.9 m | 7,562 |
| **Germany** | 3% | $41.7 m | 3,357 |
| **Switzerland** | 2.1% | $29.6 m | 2,950 |

#### HS 320416: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Türkiye** | 18.4% | $184.5 m | 42k |
| **China** | 9.4% | $94.5 m | 10k |
| **Indonesia** | 6.5% | $65.0 m | 14k |
| **Singapore** | 6.3% | $63.4 m | – |
| **Pakistan** | 5.9% | $59.6 m | 17k |
| **Brazil** | 5% | $50.2 m | 10k |
| **South Korea** | 4% | $39.8 m | 8,290 |
| **Germany** | 3.7% | $36.9 m | 4,243 |

 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, probably 30-40% of output (indicative); export values cannot be set against the market estimate directly, because China's about $3.2 billion covers dyes and pigments and India's about $3.5 billion covers dyes, dyestuffs and intermediates |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Powders, granules and liquids in bags, drums and IBCs by container; light and high value, so they travel far. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | China and India to Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and Europe; Gujarat ports (Mundra, Nhava Sheva) for Indian exports. |  |  |
| **India** | India exports to over 90 countries; exports about $3.5 billion in FY2023-24 (Indian Chemical News); detailed HS. HS 320411: India imported $20 million (2.5% of world imports, rank 15) and exported $83 million (9.1% of world exports, rank 2); HS 320416: India imported $33 million (3.3% of world imports, rank 9) and exported $603 million (43.0% of world exports, rank 1) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Most dyes are not dangerous goods; some are UN3077 environmentally hazardous solids; reducing agents such as sodium hydrosulphite are class 4.2 self-heating (indicative). |  |  |

## Other sections

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