PET resin: Movement

Containers of dry chips from Asia to the world

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 390761

World exports $11.7 bn 88 reporting exporters · about 10.9 m t Largest exporter China 44.5% of world exports Largest importer United States 12.6% of world imports India imports $230.4 m
exports $328.9 m #8 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 390761: 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 390761: largest exporters

Country	Share	Value (US$)	Tonnes
China	44.5%	$5.20 bn	5.86 m
Lithuania	5.4%	$625.6 m	521k
Oman	4.6%	$533.0 m	518k
Türkiye	4.4%	$516.0 m	438k
Germany	3.6%	$421.6 m	287k
Thailand	3.6%	$415.1 m	417k
South Korea	3.5%	$406.4 m	297k
Egypt	3.4%	$402.1 m	329k

HS 390761: largest importers

Country	Share	Value (US$)	Tonnes
United States	12.6%	$1.35 bn	1.03 m
Japan	8.5%	$911.1 m	827k
Italy	5.8%	$616.3 m	525k
France	4%	$427.2 m	334k
Germany	2.9%	$312.8 m	225k
Poland	2.9%	$306.6 m	255k
Indonesia	2.5%	$268.5 m	291k
India	2.2%	$230.4 m	246k

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	about 25-30% of resin crosses borders (indicative, basis: Chinese and Asian exports)
How it moves	Crystalline chips in 1.1-1.25 t big bags or bulk containers with liners. Chips must be kept dry and are dried again before moulding.
Routes and chokepoints	China and Southeast Asia to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America by container. Feedstock flows matter too: Gulf MEG to China and India through Hormuz. Indian PET flake also moves to Europe for recycling (Readon).
India	India both makes and trades PET resin. Indian flake exports to Europe rose in FY25 (Readon). HS 390761: India imported $230 million (2.2% of world imports, rank 8) and exported $329 million (2.8% of world exports, rank 10) (UN Comtrade 2024).
Handling in transit	Not dangerous goods (no UN number). Chips are hygroscopic and must be kept dry; dust in handling.