Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Unsaturated polyester resins: Movement

A resin that spoils in months, so it rarely travels

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 390791

World exports $2.75 bn 82 reporting exporters · about 1.12 m t Largest exporter Italy 12.2% of world exports Largest importer Germany 9.1% of world imports India imports $129.7 m
exports $50.8 m #6 importer · #15 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 390791: 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 390791: largest exporters

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
Italy12.2%$334.5 m120k
United States11.1%$305.2 m93k
China9.7%$267.5 m169k
Türkiye9.4%$259.3 m156k
France8.5%$233.7 m82k
Germany5.5%$151.5 m42k
Netherlands3.8%$105.8 m44k
Poland3.7%$101.6 m43k

HS 390791: largest importers

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
Germany9.1%$247.5 m95k
United States6.7%$181.3 m50k
Spain6.2%$168.1 m–
Canada5.8%$158.2 m53k
Poland5.7%$155.4 m53k
India4.8%$129.7 m–
Mexico4.6%$125.7 m40k
France3.6%$97.8 m33k
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

MeasureFigure
Share tradednot published; low, because resin is a flammable liquid with a shelf life of about 3-6 months (indicative)
How it movesLiquid resin in drums and IBCs, occasionally road tankers; kept cool and shaded to avoid premature gelling.
Routes and chokepointsMostly regional; China to Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East; Europe and the US to neighbouring markets.
IndiaIndia's larger exposure is to imported styrene and propylene glycol (styrene and PO tiles). HS 390791: India imported $130 million (4.8% of world imports, rank 6) and exported $51 million (1.8% of world exports, rank 15) (UN Comtrade 2024).
Handling in transitUN1866 resin solution, class 3 flammable liquid (styrene flash point about 31 C). MEKP initiators ship separately as class 5.2 organic peroxides.