# Polypropylene: Movement

Why India's sacks depend on Gulf shipping

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polypropylene/movement/

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 bn
exports $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 |

 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 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. |  |  |

## Other sections

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