Soda ash: Movement

Why the US exports more than half its output

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 disodium carbonate under HS 2836.20, worth $4.0 billion of exports in 2024. The United States leads with 42.5%, then Turkey (23%), Bulgaria (8%) and China (7%). More than half of US output was exported in 2025. Imports are spread widely. Mexico (8%), Brazil (7%) and Chile (6%) head a long list, with Malaysia, China and Indonesia at 5% each. Chile's share reflects lithium carbonate production, which consumes soda ash (Conway, pdf p. 301). US cargoes move by rail from Wyoming to ports, then by sea.

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. 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.

Soda ash · HS 283620

World exports 2024 $4.03 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $4.34 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value United States 42.5% Turkey 23.2% Bulgaria 7.6% China 7.3% Bosnia and Herzegovina 2.9% Germany 2.6% Top importers, share of value Mexico 8.2% Brazil 7.4% Chile 6.3% Malaysia 5.3% China 5% Indonesia 5% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.