# Viscose fibre: Movement

Pulp from Brazil and Canada, fibre to South Asia

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/viscose/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 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

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Indonesia** | 41.7% | $818.8 m | 490k |
| **China** | 18.1% | $356.3 m | 204k |
| **Singapore** | 11.4% | $223.8 m | 127k |
| **Thailand** | 10.2% | $201.0 m | 125k |
| **Germany** | 8.3% | $162.5 m | 54k |
| **India** | 5.5% | $107.3 m | 52k |
| **Japan** | 1.6% | $30.9 m | 8,599 |
| **Malaysia** | 1.4% | $28.0 m | 16k |

#### HS 550410: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Türkiye** | 25.3% | $558.8 m | 283k |
| **China** | 13.2% | $291.2 m | 126k |
| **United States** | 10.2% | $225.7 m | 91k |
| **Pakistan** | 9% | $198.4 m | 122k |
| **Singapore** | 6.2% | $136.3 m | 91k |
| **India** | 4.8% | $105.8 m | 43k |
| **Germany** | 4.4% | $97.5 m | 47k |
| **Spain** | 3.9% | $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

| Measure | Figure |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Share traded** | not published; a large share of Indonesian and Austrian output is exported, while Chinese and Indian fibre is mostly spun at home (indicative) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Staple 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 chokepoints** | China 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. |  |  |
| **India** | Grasim 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 transit** | Fibre 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. |  |  |

## Other sections

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