Polyurethanes (MDI, TDI, polyols): Movement
Isocyanates travel; phosgene and amines never do
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 390950
World exports $7.11 bn 108 reporting exporters · about 1.75 m t Largest exporter Germany 21.6% of world exports Largest importer China 10% of world imports India imports $336.0 mexports $82.0 m #5 importer · #16 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 390950: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 390950: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 21.6% | $1.54 bn | 320k |
| China | 13.5% | $962.4 m | 411k |
| United States | 12% | $852.1 m | 153k |
| Italy | 8.2% | $580.8 m | 157k |
| Belgium | 4.5% | $319.6 m | 66k |
| South Korea | 4.4% | $312.6 m | 73k |
| Netherlands | 4.3% | $306.3 m | 76k |
| Spain | 4.2% | $301.3 m | 71k |
HS 390950: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 10% | $666.0 m | 147k |
| United States | 7.9% | $526.2 m | – |
| Germany | 7.1% | $473.5 m | 109k |
| Italy | 5.1% | $340.3 m | 77k |
| India | 5.1% | $336.0 m | 135k |
| Mexico | 4.3% | $283.0 m | 66k |
| Canada | 3.4% | $225.4 m | 40k |
| France | 3.4% | $223.8 m | – |
HS 390720: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 93.4% | $607k | – |
| Guyana | 4.2% | $27k | 2.65 |
| Togo | 1.9% | $13k | 5.06 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0.3% | $1,920 | – |
| Yemen | 0.2% | $1,301 | 20.0 |
HS 390720: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 83.9% | $107.4 m | 63k |
| Lebanon | 10.3% | $13.1 m | 7,607 |
| Iraq | 2.1% | $2.73 m | 2,043 |
| Togo | 1.2% | $1.57 m | 2,011 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1.2% | $1.56 m | 848 |
| Guyana | 0.7% | $868k | 460 |
| Yemen | 0.3% | $374k | 410 |
| Cabo Verde | 0.2% | $255k | 159 |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | not published; MDI and TDI are widely traded because only about 20 sites make them, while polyols are traded regionally (indicative) | ||
| How it moves | MDI and TDI move as liquids in drums, IBCs, ISO tanks and small parcel tankers, kept dry and within a temperature band (pure MDI must be shipped chilled or molten). Phosgene and amines are never shipped; they are made and consumed on site. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | China, Korea and Singapore to India and Southeast Asia; Saudi Arabia to India through the Strait of Hormuz; Europe to the Middle East and Africa. | ||
| India | India's polyether polyol imports were about 500 kt in 2024; 2025 origins were China about 40%, Singapore 14%, Saudi Arabia 13%, Thailand 11% and Korea 9% (PU Daily, 2025). MDI is entirely imported (indicative). | ||
| Handling in transit | TDI is UN2078, class 6.1 (toxic). Monomeric MDI is often shipped as UN2489 class 6.1 or as non-regulated polymeric MDI, depending on form (indicative). Moisture reacts with isocyanates to release CO2 and can burst containers. |