Propylene oxide: Movement
Why most PO travels disguised as polyols
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 291020
World exports $1.60 bn 28 reporting exporters · about 1.13 m t Largest exporter Netherlands 24.5% of world exports Largest importer Netherlands 22.8% of world imports India imports $56.1 mexports $3,527 #7 importer · #16 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 291020: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 291020: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 24.5% | $392.4 m | 249k |
| United States | 21.1% | $338.2 m | 301k |
| Germany | 11.2% | $179.9 m | 102k |
| Thailand | 10.7% | $171.3 m | 141k |
| Belgium | 10.4% | $166.3 m | 106k |
| France | 8.1% | $130.3 m | 93k |
| Singapore | 4.8% | $77.0 m | – |
| Saudi Arabia | 4.2% | $66.8 m | 65k |
HS 291020: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 22.8% | $370.6 m | 227k |
| Belgium | 19.3% | $313.6 m | – |
| Germany | 17.4% | $282.2 m | 170k |
| China | 16.5% | $267.1 m | 266k |
| South Korea | 4.5% | $72.5 m | – |
| Spain | 4.2% | $68.6 m | 47k |
| India | 3.5% | $56.1 m | 40k |
| Colombia | 1.7% | $27.6 m | 21k |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | about 5-10% of output as PO (indicative); much more as polyols and propylene glycol | ||
| How it moves | Liquid (boiling point 34°C) in nitrogen-blanketed ISO tanks and small parcel tankers; most is converted to polyols on site. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and India; intra-Europe. | ||
| India | India imports PO for its few non-integrated polyol users and imports much more as polyols and PG (indicative); HS 291020 values not retrieved. | ||
| Handling in transit | UN1280, Class 3 flammable liquid, packing group I; must be kept cool and inerted. |