Product intelligence · HS 731021 · 2024 data

Cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel

Global exports of cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel totalled $2,919,208,974 in 2024, a -4.1% change from the previous year. Traded by 152 countries across 3,129 bilateral corridors, with demand from 193 importing markets. The long-term trend is stable.

Data: OECD BIMTS · Coverage: 19952024 · Updated: 2026-07-17

Global trade

$2.9B

-4.1% YoY

3Y / 5Y CAGR

+2.1%

5Y: +4.0%

Supply structure

Diversified

HHI 0.072

Volatility

Low

Score 3/100

1.

Market movement

In 2024, cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel trade exhibited slight decline, with global flows reaching $2,919,208,974 and a three-year compound annual growth rate of +2.1% (five-year: +4.0%). The all-time peak of $3,112,789,578 was recorded in 2022; the current level is 6% below that high-water mark.

Over the 30-year observation window (19952024), 59% of years recorded positive growth, indicating a mildly upward trajectory with periodic contractions. Trend momentum is steady (+0.2% acceleration).

The World Trade Flows Characterization classifies cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel as "One-way trade" in the medium price range price segment, providing additional context for market positioning and competitive dynamics.

2.

Supply & demand structure

The supply side is diversified (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index 0.072). The three largest exporters — China ($526.1M), Spain ($315.0M), and Germany ($238.1M) — collectively dominate supply flows. The leading exporter has grown at +4.4% over the last three years.

On the demand side, importer concentration is diversified (HHI 0.047). The three largest import markets are France ($309.2M), Germany ($259.4M), and Belgium ($233.4M). The largest importing market sources from 69 different supplying countries.

Estimated substitution elasticity: -9.61. Buyers are highly price-sensitive and can switch between suppliers relatively easily.

The dominant trade corridor is United States → Canada at $168.1M, representing 91.6% of the importer's total demand.

3.

Risk profile & trade outlook

The volatility score for cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel is 3 out of 100, classified as low. Trade flows are relatively stable compared to other HS6 products, suggesting mature supply chains and predictable demand.

For market entrants, contracting demand signals caution before committing resources. The diversified supply landscape means many competitors but also multiple entry points and buyer relationships to target.

Data confidence is rated "High" based on reporting coverage and consistency across OECD member and partner countries.

Historical evidence

Annual trade value 19952024

Peak: $3,112,789,578 in 2022. Currently 6% below peak.

YearGlobal trade (USD)YoY growth
2015$2,074,170,017-13.7%
2016$1,989,931,515-4.1%
2017$2,100,343,116+5.5%
2018$2,420,916,523+15.3%
2019$2,403,115,147-0.7%
2020$2,384,695,922-0.8%
2021$2,741,138,992+14.9%
2022$3,112,789,578+13.6%
2023$3,044,515,889-2.2%
2024$2,919,208,974-4.1%

Top exporting countries

Ranked by export value of cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel in 2024.

View all 152 exporters →

Top importing markets

Largest import destinations for cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel.

View all 193 markets →

Leading trade corridors

Largest bilateral export flows for cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel, ranked by value. Click any country to view its full profile.

#ExporterImporterValue 20243Y CAGR
1United StatesCanada$168.1M-3.6%
2SpainFrance$129.7M+11.6%
3ChinaUnited States$80.2M-8.5%
4GermanyNetherlands$74.3M-12.0%
5BelgiumNetherlands$71.4M+7.5%
6SpainPortugal$71.2M-3.1%
7FranceBelgium$68.1M+29.9%
8MexicoUnited States$66.5M+7.7%

Showing top 8 of 10 corridors with available data for 2024.

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Sources, definitions & methodology

Data source

OECD Bilateral International Merchandise Trade Statistics (BIMTS). Aggregated from 312M+ reported trade records across 200+ countries and 5,300+ HS6 product codes. Coverage: 19952024.

Key indicators

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): market concentration, 0 = fully diversified, 1 = single player. CAGR: compound annual growth rate over a stated period. Volatility score: trade value variability, 0–100 scale.

How this page is made

All statistical content on this page is data-driven, composed programmatically from live OECD trade records. No generic AI-generated prose is used. Analytical paragraphs combine real data points with factual interpretation. This page was last refreshed on 2026-07-17.