Chain · Oil and gas to plastics

No exporter holds more than 26% of any stage of the plastics chain (2024)

In 2024 the largest exporters were Korea in olefins (25%), United States in polymers (14%) and Korea in synthetic rubber (17%), and China bought 38% of traded olefins.

9stages from ore to product
$334.4bnlargest stage, 2024: Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline)
Noneno chokepoint in 2024
Germany · GL 0.95most two-way stage, 2024: Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)

YearFocus economy

The chain in 2024

Feedstock

Crude oil

2709.00

$1.3tn · $0.54/kgSAU 14%

Use share ~12% · IEA, 2017 data

Feedstock

Natural gas and LPG

2711.112711.212711.122711.13

$434.5bn · $0.01/kgUSA 19%

Use share ~8% · IEA, 2017 dataalso in Gas and minerals to fertilisers and crops

S1 Crude oil

Feedstock

Crude oil

2709.00

$1.3tn · $0.54/kgSAU 14%

Use share ~12% · IEA, 2017 data

Feedstock

Natural gas and LPG

2711.112711.212711.122711.13

$434.5bn · $0.01/kgUSA 19%

Use share ~8% · IEA, 2017 dataalso in Gas and minerals to fertilisers and crops

Feedstock only, joining from above

S2 Naphtha

Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline)

2710.12

$334.4bn · $0.72/kgUSA 14%

Use share unknown

S3 Olefins and aromatics

Olefins and aromatics

2901.212901.222901.242902.202902.432902.50

$47.9bn · $1/kgKOR 25%

S4 Intermediates

PTA, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride

2917.362905.312903.21

$18.5bn · $0.68/kgCHN 16%

also in Cotton and polyester to clothing

S5 Polymers and rubber

Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)

39013902.103904.103907.613907.693903

$162.3bn · $1.2/kgUSA 14%

Synthetic rubber (SBR)

4002.19

$6.6bn · $2.2/kgKOR 17%

S6 Plastic goods and tyres

Film, sheets and packaging

39203923

$132.3bn · $3.2/kgCHN 17%

Car tyres

4011.10

$53.0bn · $5.4/kgCHN 19%

World trade and top exporter by stage, 2024; unit value where net weight covers at least 80% of value. Chokepoint: the stage worth at least $1bn with the highest exporter HHI, when above 0.25. Dashed: side inputs and feedstocks, which join from above. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Who trades each stage, 2024

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Size

Imports | ExportsHalf-disc area ∝ value; one scale for every year

Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline), 2024

World trade, 2024: $334.4bn

Top exporters, 2024

USA 14%
SGP 8%
ARE 7%
NLD 6%
IND 6%
Others 59%

The ring shows the stage of this chain the economy leads; a dashed rowan ring marks an economy with more than half of the stage’s exports. Click an economy to follow its flows (exports gold, imports teal).

Open in the explorer

Why do some economies both import and export the same stage?

Different goods under one code. A six-digit code can hold cheap and costly versions of a product: 2506.10 covers quartzite lumps and high-purity quartz worth many times more per kilogram.
Processing and hub trade. Goods come in, are refined or assembled, and go out again.
Firms and regions. Firms or regions within one economy buy and sell for their own reasons, such as a firm shipping inputs to its own plants abroad.
How trade is recorded. Under the mirror rule an economy’s imports may come from its own reports and its exports from its partners’; origin and consignment, re-exports and misclassification can make one side larger.

“↔ two-way” marks an economy whose Grubel–Lloyd index is at least 0.3 and whose exports and imports are each at least 2% of world trade in the stage. The sentences under a stage give the numbers, never the reason. How two-way trade is measured

S1 · Crude oilFeedstock

S1 · Crude oil

2709.00

World trade, 2024$1.3tn×1.2 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$0.54/kg2019: $0.48/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.07unconcentrated · 2019: 0.07
135 exportersSAU 14%100% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	SAU Saudi Arabia	14.2	16.0
2	RUS Russia	9.4	11.6
3	USA United States	9.0	–
4	ARE UAE	8.6	6.6
5	CAN Canada	8.5	6.6

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	24.6	22.9
2	USA United States	13.2	12.5
3	IND India	10.7	9.6
4	KOR Korea	6.5	6.6
5	JPN Japan	5.4	6.9

United States imports $174.5bn and exports $119.2bn of this stage. Imports average $0.46/kg, exports $0.63/kg. Main suppliers: Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia. Main buyers: Korea, Netherlands, Canada.

Crude oil, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Use share: how much of this stage goes to this chain

About 12% of world oil demand is petrochemical feedstock. The map shows the whole flow, because that is what crossed the border; the trail draws 12% of it solid. Source: IEA, The Future of Petrochemicals (2018), p. 78, data for 2017.

Downstream · S2

Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline)$0.72/kg · USA 14%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

Source: UN Comtrade, monthly data, HS6; 12-month sum; one side per flow (the importer's report where it filed as many months). Korea, Jan–Jul 2026: Korea Customs Service, trade by item and country (data.go.kr), fetched 31 Oct 2026.

S1 · Crude oilFeedstock

S1 · Natural gas and LPG

2711.112711.212711.122711.13

World trade, 2024$434.5bn×1.5 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$0.01/kg2019: $0.38/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.08unconcentrated · 2019: 0.07
139 exportersUSA 19%98% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	19.3	11.7
2	QAT Qatar	11.6	12.7
3	AUS Australia	11.3	13.5
4	RUS Russia	9.1	9.9
5	NOR Norway	6.2	–

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	20.2	18.4
2	JPN Japan	10.9	15.6
3	KOR Korea	8.0	8.4
4	IND India	6.8	5.9
5	FRA France	6.2	–

Natural gas and LPG, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Use share: how much of this stage goes to this chain

About 8% of natural gas demand goes to the chemical sector (feedstock and process energy, ammonia and methanol included); no free source gives LPG's petrochemical share. The map shows the whole flow, because that is what crossed the border; the trail draws 8% of it solid. Source: IEA, The Future of Petrochemicals (2018), p. 27, data for 2017.

Also in another chain

This stage also feeds Gas and minerals to fertilisers and crops; where both chains use the same code, it is one network, shown in each.

Downstream · S3

Olefins and aromatics$1/kg · KOR 25%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S2 · Naphtha

S2 · Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline)

2710.12

World trade, 2024$334.4bn×1.4 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$0.72/kg2019: $0.55/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.05unconcentrated · 2019: 0.05
186 exportersUSA 14%94% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	13.8	14.1
2	SGP Singapore	8.0	7.2
3	ARE UAE	7.4	7.5
4	NLD Netherlands	5.9	7.2
5	IND India	5.6	–

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	7.9	10.6
2	SGP Singapore	6.1	5.7
3	KOR Korea	5.9	5.7
4	MEX Mexico	5.3	7.2
5	JPN Japan	4.2	–

United States imports $26.4bn and exports $46.2bn of this stage. Main suppliers: Canada, Netherlands, India. Main buyers: Mexico, Canada, Colombia.

Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline), 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

What trade cannot see here

Naphtha shares the code with motor gasoline; national 8- and 10-digit lines split them.

Use share: how much of this stage goes to this chain

The share of 2710.12 trade that is naphtha for petrochemicals: unknown, because motor gasoline shares the code; national 8- and 10-digit lines split them. The map shows the whole flow; the trail draws it in grey only.

Upstream · S1

Crude oil$0.54/kg · SAU 14%

Downstream · S3

Olefins and aromatics$1/kg · KOR 25%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S3 · Olefins and aromatics

2901.212901.222901.242902.202902.432902.50

World trade, 2024$47.9bn×0.9 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$1/kg2019: $0.91/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.10unconcentrated · 2019: 0.09
91 exportersKOR 25%100% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	KOR Korea	25.5	21.8
2	NLD Netherlands	8.3	6.5
3	JPN Japan	8.3	10.8
4	USA United States	6.1	8.0
5	SAU Saudi Arabia	5.6	6.2

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	38.0	45.2
2	USA United States	7.7	4.6
3	TWN Taiwan	5.9	6.2
4	BEL Belgium	5.5	4.4
5	IND India	4.8	–

United States imports $3.7bn and exports $2.9bn of this stage. Imports average $0.96/kg, exports $1.2/kg. Main suppliers: Korea, Saudi Arabia, Canada. Main buyers: Mexico, Colombia, Netherlands.

Olefins and aromatics, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Upstream · S2, S1

Light oils (naphtha, with gasoline)$0.72/kg · USA 14%Natural gas and LPG$0.01/kg · USA 19%

Downstream · S5, S4

Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)$1.2/kg · USA 14%PTA, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride$0.68/kg · CHN 16%

Show on map Cut a supplier

Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S4 · Intermediates

S4 · PTA, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride

2917.362905.312903.21

World trade, 2024$18.5bn×1.0 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$0.68/kg2019: $0.68/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.09unconcentrated · 2019: 0.09
90 exportersCHN 16%91% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	16.1	–
2	SAU Saudi Arabia	16.0	21.8
3	USA United States	11.4	–
4	KOR Korea	9.8	8.9
5	CAN Canada	7.1	7.1

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	21.3	39.4
2	IND India	13.5	8.1
3	TUR Türkiye	12.1	5.8
4	VNM Vietnam	6.2	4.7
5	USA United States	5.9	6.5

China imports $4.0bn and exports $3.0bn of this stage. Imports average $0.54/kg, exports $0.76/kg. Main suppliers: Saudi Arabia, Canada, United States. Main buyers: Türkiye, Vietnam, Oman.

PTA, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Also in another chain

This stage also feeds Cotton and polyester to clothing; where both chains use the same code, it is one network, shown in each.

Upstream · S3

Olefins and aromatics$1/kg · KOR 25%

Downstream · S5

Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)$1.2/kg · USA 14%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S5 · Polymers and rubber

S5 · Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)

39013902.103904.103907.613907.693903

World trade, 2024$162.3bn×1.1 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$1.2/kg2019: $1.2/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.06unconcentrated · 2019: 0.05
191 exportersUSA 14%92% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	13.6	10.7
2	SAU Saudi Arabia	9.6	12.9
3	CHN China	8.5	–
4	KOR Korea	8.1	8.0
5	BEL Belgium	4.9	5.2

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	15.4	21.1
2	USA United States	5.3	4.8
3	IND India	5.1	3.7
4	DEU Germany	4.3	4.8
5	VNM Vietnam	4.2	–

China imports $24.9bn and exports $13.8bn of this stage. Imports average $1.1/kg, exports $1/kg. Main suppliers: Korea, United States, Saudi Arabia. Main buyers: Vietnam, India, Russia.

Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS), 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Upstream · S4, S3

PTA, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride$0.68/kg · CHN 16%Olefins and aromatics$1/kg · KOR 25%

Downstream · S6

Film, sheets and packaging$3.2/kg · CHN 17%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S5 · Polymers and rubber

S5 · Synthetic rubber (SBR)

4002.19

World trade, 2024$6.6bn×1.1 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$2.2/kg2019: $1.9/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.07unconcentrated · 2019: 0.08
92 exportersKOR 17%94% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	KOR Korea	16.6	17.1
2	CHN China	8.2	–
3	USA United States	8.1	7.8
4	DEU Germany	7.4	9.8
5	TWN Taiwan	6.5	7.7

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	15.1	13.0
2	USA United States	9.6	12.5
3	IND India	5.9	–
4	THA Thailand	5.4	4.3
5	VNM Vietnam	4.9	–

China imports $990m and exports $540m of this stage. Imports average $2.1/kg, exports $1.9/kg. Main suppliers: Russia, Korea, Singapore. Main buyers: Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia.

Synthetic rubber (SBR), 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Downstream · S6

Car tyres$5.4/kg · CHN 19%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S6 · Plastic goods and tyres

S6 · Film, sheets and packaging

39203923

World trade, 2024$132.3bn×1.2 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$3.2/kg2019: $3.3/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.06unconcentrated · 2019: 0.06
227 exportersCHN 17%95% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	17.2	14.0
2	DEU Germany	10.3	10.3
3	USA United States	9.9	10.1
4	JPN Japan	5.5	6.8
5	ITA Italy	3.9	–

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	12.5	11.4
2	DEU Germany	5.8	6.3
3	CHN China	5.7	7.2
4	FRA France	5.0	4.8
5	MEX Mexico	4.8	4.5

China imports $7.6bn and exports $22.7bn of this stage. Imports average $9.2/kg, exports $3/kg. Main suppliers: Japan, Korea, Taiwan. Main buyers: United States, Vietnam, Japan.

Film, sheets and packaging, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Upstream · S5

Polymers (PE, PP, PVC, PET, PS)$1.2/kg · USA 14%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

S6 · Plastic goods and tyres

S6 · Car tyres

4011.10

World trade, 2024$53.0bn×1.2 vs 2019
Unit value, 2024$5.4/kg2019: $4.6/kg
Exporter concentration, 20240.07unconcentrated · 2019: 0.05
185 exportersCHN 19%96% of value from importers’ reports

Top exporters, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world exports, %	2019, %
1	CHN China	19.5	13.6
2	DEU Germany	7.5	9.0
3	THA Thailand	6.7	6.7
4	KOR Korea	5.7	6.8
5	JPN Japan	4.3	5.2

Top importers, 2024

#	Economy	Share of world imports, %	2019, %
1	USA United States	19.6	19.6
2	DEU Germany	9.8	9.9
3	FRA France	6.0	5.1
4	GBR UK	4.3	4.5
5	NLD Netherlands	3.8	3.8

Germany imports $5.2bn and exports $4.0bn of this stage. Imports average $6/kg, exports $7.2/kg. Main suppliers: China, Czechia, Korea. Main buyers: France, Netherlands, Austria.

Car tyres, 2024: shares of world exports and imports. Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

Upstream · S5

Synthetic rubber (SBR)$2.2/kg · KOR 17%

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Exporter concentration (HHI), 1995–2025

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule.

World trade, 12-month sum, by month

How these numbers are made

Each chain has its own ladder of stages, one rung per step of production that customs records can see: four for clothing, eight for chips. Each stage is a set of six-digit HS codes, written down once with the rung it sits on and what else its code holds. World trade is the sum of bilateral flows under the mirror rule: the importer’s report where the importer reported that year, otherwise the exporter’s. Unit value is value over net weight, shown only where weight covers at least 80% of value. HHI is the sum of squared exporter shares; 0.15 and 0.25 mark moderate and high concentration.

Customs records see goods crossing a border, not what they were for. Production used at home, codes that hold two products and codes split by HS versions are named at the stage where they matter. Use shares, where a stage mostly goes elsewhere, come from dated sources outside trade; they scale the trail, never the map. The full method

Source: UN Comtrade, Final data, HS6; mirror rule. Updated 2 Nov 2026.