Mercury: Movement

How a country with no mines became a trading hub

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.

Comtrade records $49.4 million of mercury exports (HS 2805.40) in 2023. Tajikistan led with 45.9%, followed by the UAE (39.7%), Peru (4.8%) and Thailand (3.2%). The UAE mines no mercury, so it acts as a trading hub. Imports in 2024 totalled $21.7 million, led by South Africa (42.7%), India (19.9%), Togo (14.6%), Argentina (5.7%) and Guyana (2.7%). Several of these are likely gateways to artisanal gold fields. The US has banned elemental mercury exports since 2013, and its imports are tiny.

Where it is exported from and imported to, 2023

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2023. Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

Mercury · HS 280540

World exports 2023 $49.4 m sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $21.7 m sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Tajikistan 45.9% United Arab Emirates 39.7% Peru 4.8% Thailand 3.2% Japan 2.6% Switzerland 0.9% Top importers, share of value South Africa 42.7% India 19.9% Togo 14.6% Argentina 5.7% Guyana 2.7% Brazil 2.2% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.