# Battery electrolytes: Movement

Why electrolyte is shipped under nitrogen in sealed drums

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electrolytes/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 282690
 World exports $468.9 m 55 reporting exporters · about 100k t Largest exporter China 52.2% of world exports Largest importer Japan 33.2% of world imports India imports $7.77 m
exports $2.11 m #10 importer · #10 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 282690: 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 282690: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 52.2% | $244.5 m | 70k |
| **Germany** | 16.5% | $77.2 m | 2,164 |
| **South Korea** | 11% | $51.7 m | 1,547 |
| **Thailand** | 8.7% | $40.6 m | 282 |
| **Belgium** | 2.5% | $11.5 m | 9,711 |
| **Japan** | 2.4% | $11.3 m | 1,976 |
| **United States** | 2.1% | $10.1 m | 1,521 |
| **Spain** | 1.4% | $6.42 m | 4,223 |

#### HS 282690: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Japan** | 33.2% | $159.8 m | 4,623 |
| **United States** | 18.9% | $90.9 m | 13k |
| **South Korea** | 8.4% | $40.6 m | 5,686 |
| **Poland** | 7.8% | $37.5 m | 4,536 |
| **China** | 5.5% | $26.4 m | 732 |
| **Hungary** | 4.8% | $22.9 m | 2,771 |
| **Brazil** | 2.7% | $12.9 m | 6,389 |
| **Spain** | 2.1% | $10.1 m | – |

 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** | low to moderate: electrolyte is often blended near cell plants, while LiPF6 salt and solvents are traded (indicative) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Electrolyte in sealed stainless steel drums and ISO tanks under nitrogen; LiPF6 as dry powder in sealed containers; moisture exclusion is critical |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | China to Korea, Japan, Hungary, Poland and Southeast Asia; HS 282690 for LiPF6. |  |  |
| **India** | Imports of LiPF6 and electrolyte under HS 282690 and 3824. HS 282690: India imported $8 million (1.6% of world imports, rank 10) and exported $2 million (0.4% of world exports, rank 10) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Electrolyte: flammable liquid, class 3, often with corrosive subsidiary risk (indicative); LiPF6: corrosive solid, class 8, releases HF with moisture (indicative). |  |  |

## Other sections

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