# Silicones: Movement

Drums and ISO tanks from China to India

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/silicones/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 391000
 World exports $6.53 bn 113 reporting exporters · about 1.21 m t Largest exporter China 22.1% of world exports Largest importer China 10.4% of world imports India imports $355.3 m
exports $76.9 m #8 importer · #14 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 391000: 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 391000: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 22.1% | $1.45 bn | 546k |
| **United States** | 21.2% | $1.39 bn | 131k |
| **Japan** | 11.3% | $738.4 m | 62k |
| **France** | 5.9% | $386.1 m | 65k |
| **Netherlands** | 5.7% | $375.0 m | 38k |
| **United Kingdom** | 5.7% | $370.6 m | 92k |
| **South Korea** | 4.5% | $293.4 m | 40k |
| **Thailand** | 3.7% | $238.8 m | 58k |

#### HS 391000: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **China** | 10.4% | $829.1 m | 109k |
| **United States** | 9.2% | $729.8 m | 121k |
| **South Korea** | 6.6% | $522.1 m | 127k |
| **Germany** | 6.1% | $483.7 m | 77k |
| **Mexico** | 5.5% | $435.9 m | – |
| **Italy** | 4.9% | $390.1 m | 62k |
| **Netherlands** | 4.8% | $385.4 m | 76k |
| **India** | 4.5% | $355.3 m | 106k |

 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 for DMC and polymers from China; about 20-30% of siloxane crosses borders (indicative) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | DMC and fluids in drums, IBCs and ISO tanks; gums and rubber in boxes; sealants in cartridges. Chlorosilanes are made and used on site. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | China to India, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Europe; Germany and US to the rest of the world for specialty grades. |  |  |
| **India** | India imports silicones in primary forms mainly from China (indicative). HS 391000: India imported $355 million (4.5% of world imports, rank 8) and exported $77 million (1.2% of world exports, rank 14) (UN Comtrade 2024). |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Most silicone polymers are not dangerous goods. Chlorosilanes are water-reactive and corrosive (for example UN1162 dimethyldichlorosilane, UN1250 methyltrichlorosilane) and rarely shipped. |  |  |

## Other sections

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