# Propylene oxide: Movement

Why most PO travels disguised as polyols

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

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 m
exports $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 |

 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 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. |  |  |

## Other sections

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