Low-carbon hydrogen and e-fuels: Movement
Why hydrogen travels the world disguised as ammonia
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 280410
World exports $195.1 m 64 reporting exporters · about 107k t Largest exporter Canada 34.3% of world exports Largest importer United States 31.2% of world imports India imports $872kexports $17k #24 importer · #48 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 280410: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 280410: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 34.3% | $66.9 m | 34k |
| Netherlands | 14.5% | $28.2 m | 3,801 |
| Iraq | 14.3% | $27.9 m | 55k |
| United States | 10.2% | $19.8 m | 2,078 |
| Germany | 6.8% | $13.3 m | 2,022 |
| France | 4.3% | $8.44 m | 5,115 |
| Belgium | 3.3% | $6.46 m | 1,569 |
| Malaysia | 2.8% | $5.46 m | 572 |
HS 280410: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 31.2% | $67.5 m | 5,862 |
| Netherlands | 22.7% | $49.2 m | 15k |
| France | 10% | $21.7 m | 4,505 |
| Canada | 3.7% | $7.99 m | 4,119 |
| United Kingdom | 3.6% | $7.77 m | 564 |
| Germany | 3.3% | $7.13 m | 584 |
| Mexico | 3% | $6.49 m | 57k |
| Czechia | 2.4% | $5.30 m | 511 |
HS 290511: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | 18.5% | $1.36 bn | 4.49 m |
| Saudi Arabia | 17.5% | $1.28 bn | 4.33 m |
| United States | 13.7% | $1.01 bn | – |
| Netherlands | 11.2% | $825.8 m | 2.27 m |
| Oman | 8.4% | $614.7 m | 2.20 m |
| Malaysia | 6.3% | $460.7 m | 1.64 m |
| Chile | 4.2% | $312.1 m | 1.02 m |
| Belgium | 3.8% | $280.7 m | – |
HS 290511: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 32.1% | $3.99 bn | 13.5 m |
| Netherlands | 8.5% | $1.06 bn | 3.24 m |
| India | 7.1% | $877.8 m | – |
| Brazil | 5.7% | $706.4 m | – |
| Germany | 5.5% | $685.2 m | 2.09 m |
| South Korea | 5.4% | $672.9 m | – |
| Japan | 4% | $498.0 m | 1.50 m |
| Belgium | 3.5% | $428.7 m | – |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | almost none for hydrogen itself; derivatives (ammonia, methanol) are traded internationally | ||
| How it moves | Hydrogen by pipeline or compressed tube trailers over short distances; ammonia in refrigerated gas carriers; methanol in chemical tankers; e-SAF blended into jet fuel systems | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | Planned lanes: India (Kandla, Paradip, Kakinada) and the Gulf to Europe, Japan and Korea as ammonia; Hormuz is a chokepoint for Gulf exports. HS 280410 (hydrogen) and 290511 (methanol). | ||
| India | India plans green ammonia exports from east and west coast ports; current trade under HS 280410 and 290511. HS 280410: India imported $872 thousand (0.4% of world imports, rank 24) and exported $17 thousand (0.0% of world exports, rank 48); HS 290511: India imported $878 million (7.1% of world imports, rank 3) and exported $22 million (0.3% of world exports, rank 19) (UN Comtrade 2024). | ||
| Handling in transit | Hydrogen UN1049 (compressed) and UN1966 (refrigerated liquid), class 2.1; ammonia UN1005, class 2.3 (toxic); methanol UN1230, class 3. |