Fluoropolymers (PTFE, PVDF): Movement
A specialty plastic shipped worldwide in drums
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 390461
World exports $1.07 bn 59 reporting exporters · about 86k t Largest exporter China 26.3% of world exports Largest importer United States 13.4% of world imports India imports $39.9 mexports $126.0 m #8 importer · #2 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 390461: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 390461: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 26.3% | $282.5 m | 34k |
| India | 11.7% | $126.0 m | 12k |
| United States | 11.4% | $123.1 m | 6,736 |
| Germany | 11.3% | $121.7 m | 5,333 |
| Italy | 9.8% | $104.8 m | 6,893 |
| Netherlands | 9.3% | $99.6 m | 5,842 |
| Japan | 8.5% | $91.3 m | 4,863 |
| United Kingdom | 3.4% | $36.9 m | 1,524 |
HS 390461: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 13.4% | $143.6 m | 11k |
| Germany | 12% | $128.5 m | 8,385 |
| Italy | 10.6% | $114.5 m | 14k |
| China | 7.9% | $85.1 m | 8,918 |
| Japan | 7.9% | $84.9 m | 5,401 |
| South Korea | 6.3% | $67.9 m | 6,821 |
| France | 4.7% | $50.5 m | 2,683 |
| India | 3.7% | $39.9 m | 5,299 |
HS 390469: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.5% | $550.3 m | 19k |
| Japan | 17.6% | $524.6 m | 18k |
| China | 15.9% | $474.0 m | 32k |
| France | 14.3% | $424.8 m | 15k |
| Italy | 12.1% | $359.7 m | 7,608 |
| Netherlands | 5.9% | $174.4 m | 4,974 |
| Germany | 5.8% | $173.1 m | 4,638 |
| India | 3.5% | $104.0 m | 4,441 |
HS 390469: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 18.7% | $522.1 m | 17k |
| China | 14.2% | $397.0 m | 15k |
| Germany | 12.7% | $355.1 m | 13k |
| South Korea | 9.2% | $256.6 m | 10k |
| Japan | 6.6% | $185.2 m | 5,307 |
| Italy | 4.8% | $133.0 m | 7,116 |
| Austria | 3.4% | $94.2 m | 2,904 |
| Mexico | 3.2% | $89.6 m | 3,631 |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | high; fluoropolymers are specialty products shipped worldwide (indicative, about 40-50% of output crosses borders) | ||
| How it moves | Powders, granules, pellets and aqueous dispersions in drums, bags and IBCs. Monomers (TFE, VDF) are not shipped and are polymerised on site. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | China and Japan to Korea and China battery plants; India to Europe and the US; US and Europe intra-regional. | ||
| India | India is a net exporter of PTFE and other fluoropolymers led by GFCL (indicative). HS 390461: India imported $40 million (3.7% of world imports, rank 8) and exported $126 million (11.7% of world exports, rank 2); HS 390469: India imported $76 million (2.7% of world imports, rank 11) and exported $104 million (3.5% of world exports, rank 8) (UN Comtrade 2024). | ||
| Handling in transit | Polymers are not dangerous goods. Above about 400 C PTFE releases toxic fumes (polymer fume fever). Dispersions may contain residual fluorinated surfactants. |