# Hydrogen: Movement

Why hydrogen travels disguised as ammonia

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/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 280410
 World exports $195.1 m 64 reporting exporters · about 107k t Largest exporter Canada 34.3% of world exports Largest importer United States 31.2% of world imports India imports $872k
exports $17k #24 importer · #48 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 280410: 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 280410: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Canada** | 34.3% | $66.9 m | 34k |
| **Netherlands** | 14.5% | $28.2 m | 3,801 |
| **Iraq** | 14.3% | $27.9 m | 55k |
| **United States** | 10.2% | $19.8 m | 2,078 |
| **Germany** | 6.8% | $13.3 m | 2,022 |
| **France** | 4.3% | $8.44 m | 5,115 |
| **Belgium** | 3.3% | $6.46 m | 1,569 |
| **Malaysia** | 2.8% | $5.46 m | 572 |

#### HS 280410: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **United States** | 31.2% | $67.5 m | 5,862 |
| **Netherlands** | 22.7% | $49.2 m | 15k |
| **France** | 10% | $21.7 m | 4,505 |
| **Canada** | 3.7% | $7.99 m | 4,119 |
| **United Kingdom** | 3.6% | $7.77 m | 564 |
| **Germany** | 3.3% | $7.13 m | 584 |
| **Mexico** | 3% | $6.49 m | 57k |
| **Czechia** | 2.4% | $5.30 m | 511 |

 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** | under 1% of output crosses borders as hydrogen (indicative); it moves internationally embedded in ammonia and methanol |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Compressed gas in pipelines (about 5,000 km in the world, mainly US Gulf Coast and Benelux, indicative), tube trailers at 200-500 bar, or liquid at -253 C. Low density makes it costly to move, so it is made where it is used. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | Cross-border hydrogen pipelines exist in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Planned export lanes (Middle East, Australia, India to Japan, Korea and Europe) would ship ammonia or methanol rather than hydrogen. |  |  |
| **India** | India's hydrogen trade is negligible; plans focus on exporting green ammonia from Kakinada, Paradeep and Tuticorin. |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | UN1049 (compressed, class 2.1 flammable gas); UN1966 (refrigerated liquid). Wide flammable range of 4-75% in air; embrittles some steels. |  |  |

## Other sections

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