Polypropylene: Movement
Why India's sacks depend on Gulf shipping
Why India's sacks depend on Gulf shipping 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 390210
World exports $23.2 bn 107 reporting exporters · about 15.0 m t Largest exporter Saudi Arabia 20.1% of world exports Largest importer China 9.8% of world imports India imports $1.18 bnexports $396.5 m #6 importer · #17 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 390210: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 390210: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 20.1% | $4.67 bn | 4.26 m |
| China | 9.9% | $2.29 bn | – |
| South Korea | 9.1% | $2.12 bn | 1.92 m |
| United States | 8.3% | $1.93 bn | – |
| Germany | 5.9% | $1.37 bn | 922k |
| Singapore | 3.6% | $847.4 m | 781k |
| France | 3.1% | $729.8 m | – |
| Belgium | 2.9% | $668.2 m | 459k |
HS 390210: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 9.8% | $2.43 bn | 2.36 m |
| Türkiye | 9.1% | $2.26 bn | 1.92 m |
| Germany | 5.7% | $1.42 bn | 904k |
| Mexico | 5.2% | $1.30 bn | 783k |
| Italy | 5% | $1.24 bn | 974k |
| India | 4.7% | $1.18 bn | 1.12 m |
| Indonesia | 4.6% | $1.14 bn | 1.07 m |
| Poland | 3.7% | $912.2 m | 615k |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | about 25-30% of output crosses borders (indicative, basis: Gulf and Chinese exports into Asia, India and Africa) | ||
| How it moves | Pellets in 25 kg bags or big bags in containers. Cheap to ship, so it moves from cheap-propylene regions to converter hubs. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | Gulf to India, Pakistan, East Africa and Turkey via Hormuz; China to Southeast Asia, India and Africa; Korea to China and Southeast Asia. In March 2026 cargoes booked in February for India were stuck by the Hormuz disruption (S&P Global). | ||
| India | More than half of India's PP imports come from the Middle East (S&P Global, Mar 2026); PE and PP imports together cover about one-fifth of consumption (CareEdge 2025). HS 390210: India imported $1.18 billion (4.7% of world imports, rank 6) and exported $397 million (1.7% of world exports, rank 17) (UN Comtrade 2024). | ||
| Handling in transit | Not dangerous goods (no UN number). Pellet loss and dust are the main handling risks. |