Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Viscose fibre: Movement

Pulp from Brazil and Canada, fibre to South Asia

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 550410

World exports $1.97 bn 48 reporting exporters · about 1.09 m t Largest exporter Indonesia 41.7% of world exports Largest importer Türkiye 25.3% of world imports India imports $105.8 m
exports $107.3 m #6 importer · #6 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 550410: 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 550410: largest exporters

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
Indonesia41.7%$818.8 m490k
China18.1%$356.3 m204k
Singapore11.4%$223.8 m127k
Thailand10.2%$201.0 m125k
Germany8.3%$162.5 m54k
India5.5%$107.3 m52k
Japan1.6%$30.9 m8,599
Malaysia1.4%$28.0 m16k

HS 550410: largest importers

CountryShareValue (US$)Tonnes
Türkiye25.3%$558.8 m283k
China13.2%$291.2 m126k
United States10.2%$225.7 m91k
Pakistan9%$198.4 m122k
Singapore6.2%$136.3 m91k
India4.8%$105.8 m43k
Germany4.4%$97.5 m47k
Spain3.9%$86.5 m–
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; a large share of Indonesian and Austrian output is exported, while Chinese and Indian fibre is mostly spun at home (indicative)
How it movesStaple fibre in compressed bales of about 200-250 kg, shipped in containers. Pulp moves in bales by bulk or container from Brazil, Canada, Scandinavia and South Africa.
Routes and chokepointsChina and Indonesia to South Asia and Turkey; Austria to Europe and Asia; India exports VSF from the west coast. Pulp arrives from the Americas and Scandinavia.
IndiaGrasim exports part of its output; imports had been limited by the VSF QCO until it was revoked in November 2025 (News On AIR). HS 550410: India imported $106 million (4.8% of world imports, rank 6) and exported $107 million (5.5% of world exports, rank 6) (UN Comtrade 2024).
Handling in transitFibre is not dangerous goods but bales are combustible. Carbon disulphide used at plants is UN1131, class 3 with toxic subsidiary risk, and is usually made on site.