# Oilfield and mining chemicals: Movement

Why barite crosses oceans but blended chemicals stay local

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oilfield_chemicals/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 382499
 World exports $43.3 bn 126 reporting exporters · about 14.8 m t Largest exporter China 13.7% of world exports Largest importer China 15.4% of world imports India imports $1.15 bn
exports $342.8 m #12 importer · #21 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 382499: 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 382499: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 13.7% | $5.93 bn | 4.86 m |
| **Germany** | 13.5% | $5.82 bn | 2.14 m |
| **United States** | 12.3% | $5.32 bn | 1.03 m |
| **Japan** | 10.5% | $4.54 bn | 416k |
| **Ireland** | 7.5% | $3.25 bn | 80k |
| **South Korea** | 5% | $2.17 bn | 388k |
| **France** | 4.7% | $2.02 bn | – |
| **Netherlands** | 4.3% | $1.84 bn | 749k |

#### HS 382499: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 15.4% | $6.83 bn | 2.17 m |
| **United States** | 14.1% | $6.24 bn | 874k |
| **Germany** | 6.6% | $2.93 bn | 1.30 m |
| **Hungary** | 4.4% | $1.95 bn | 132k |
| **Mexico** | 3.9% | $1.72 bn | – |
| **South Korea** | 3.8% | $1.70 bn | – |
| **France** | 3.2% | $1.42 bn | 561k |
| **Japan** | 3.1% | $1.37 bn | 631k |

 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 barite and guar (exported from India, China, Morocco to oil regions); low for blended chemicals, which are made near basins; no published share |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Barite moves as bulk lump or ground powder in bags and bulk carriers; liquid chemicals in drums, IBCs and ISO tanks; muds are mixed at shore bases. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | India and China to the US Gulf Coast and the Middle East for barite; US and Europe to all producing regions for specialty chemicals. Hormuz is a chokepoint for Gulf-bound supply. |  |  |
| **India** | . India exports barite and guar gum and imports specialty oilfield chemicals (indicative). HS 382499: India imported $1.15 billion (2.6% of world imports, rank 12) and exported $343 million (0.8% of world exports, rank 21) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Methanol UN1230 (class 3, toxic); hydrochloric acid UN1789 (class 8); many inhibitors flammable or corrosive; xanthates self-heating (class 4.2) and can release carbon disulphide; sodium cyanide UN1689 (class 6.1). |  |  |

## Other sections

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