Lead: Movement

How India became top exporter and importer at once

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Refined lead (HS 7801) traded about $7 billion in 2024 (Comtrade). India was the top exporter at 12.7% and also the top importer at 13.2%, reflecting a large battery and recycling industry. South Korea and Australia followed as exporters, with the US at 12.7% of imports. In ore and concentrate (HS 2607), Peru led with 21.7% of export value, Mexico 19.9% and the United States 16.3%. The US exports nearly all its concentrate, having no primary refinery. Scrap moves too: 23 million spent US car batteries were exported in the first eight months of 2025.

Main trade routes, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.

Unwrought lead · HS 7801

World exports 2024 $6.96 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $7.35 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value India 12.7% South Korea 10.3% Australia 9.7% United Kingdom 6.3% Malaysia 5.8% Germany 5.6% Top importers, share of value India 13.2% United States 12.7% Singapore 7.3% Germany 6.6% China 6.3% United Kingdom 5.7%

Lead ores · HS 2607

World exports 2024 $5.49 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Peru 21.7% Mexico 19.9% United States 16.3% Australia 11.2% Bolivia 4.2% Turkey 3.6% Top importers, share of value

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UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.