# Refining catalysts: Movement

How catalyst powder travels from the US Gulf to Asia

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/refining_catalysts/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 381519
 World exports $5.17 bn 85 reporting exporters · about 347k t Largest exporter United States 27% of world exports Largest importer Germany 13.5% of world imports India imports $184.8 m
exports $13.8 m #7 importer · #25 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 381519: 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 381519: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **United States** | 27% | $1.40 bn | 95k |
| **Germany** | 14.4% | $742.8 m | 29k |
| **China** | 11.8% | $609.7 m | 100k |
| **North Macedonia** | 7.5% | $388.4 m | 7,916 |
| **Japan** | 6.3% | $327.9 m | 16k |
| **Italy** | 5.1% | $263.1 m | 3,347 |
| **Poland** | 5% | $257.5 m | 6,360 |
| **Netherlands** | 4.6% | $238.5 m | 11k |

#### HS 381519: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Germany** | 13.5% | $660.8 m | 20k |
| **China** | 12.7% | $621.2 m | 22k |
| **United States** | 8.4% | $409.4 m | 30k |
| **South Korea** | 6.4% | $314.8 m | 27k |
| **Canada** | 4.6% | $222.4 m | 28k |
| **Singapore** | 4.4% | $214.3 m | 5,876 |
| **India** | 3.8% | $184.8 m | 18k |
| **Saudi Arabia** | 3% | $146.0 m | 5,416 |

 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** | high: production is concentrated in the US, Netherlands, Germany and China, so most refineries outside those countries import (indicative) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Dry powder in bulk bags, hopper trucks and containers for FCC; drums or bags of extrudates for hydroprocessing; not hazardous for most grades |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | US Gulf Coast and Rotterdam to Asia, the Middle East and Latin America by container. |  |  |
| **India** | India imports most refining catalysts. HS 381519: India imported $185 million (3.8% of world imports, rank 7) and exported $14 million (0.3% of world exports, rank 25) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Fresh FCC catalyst is not dangerous goods; presulphided and spent hydroprocessing catalysts can self-heat (UN3190 or UN2881 class 4.2 depending on grade). |  |  |

## Other sections

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