Sector footprint
$80.0M in exports
Reported chemicals exports in 2024 across 15 qualifying HS6 products.
Sector export playbook ยท HS 28-38
Zambia Chemicals exports
where capability meets demand
Explore Zambia's HS 28-38 product portfolio, buyer markets, growth signals, and diversification opportunities. Use this guide to prioritize research, not to treat calculated indicators as guaranteed sales.
Sector exports$80.0M2024 reported value
Products15Qualifying HS6 products
Buyer markets23Markets represented
Average CAGR+37.0%Product-level growth signal
Global sector size$220.7BReported buyer imports
Chemicals capability
How strong is Zambia in this sector?
Compare exporter scale with product breadth, buyer demand, growth, and destination reach. A large sector does not remove the need for product, compliance, pricing, and buyer validation.
Global demand
$220.7B buyer imports
The sector's reported buyer import base provides context for product and market prioritization.
How to use the guide
Find the next credible move
Start with products that combine demand and exporter capability, then validate standards, route economics, buyers, and competition.
Product portfolio
Which products anchor the sector?
Each HS6 product is ranked by calculated opportunity and shown with reported market size, exporter exports, growth, and destination reach.
| Product | Global size | Your exports | Opportunity | CAGR | Markets | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $116.0B | $716.8K | $56.3B | -5.3% | 11 | +0.0% |
| HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | $22.6B | $32.1M | $13.2B | +28.6% | 8 | +0.1% |
| HS 330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations) | $28.8B | $57.2K | $10.8B | +33.2% | 13 | +0.0% |
| HS 382200Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material | $21.7B | $2.8K | $9.1B | +6.1% | 10 | +0.0% |
| HS 282200Cobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides | $4.1B | $46.9M | $7.6B | +46.5% | 2 | +1.4% |
| HS 300212Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: antisera and other blood fractions | $9.9B | $24.7 | $4.7B | +11.3% | 2 | +0.0% |
| HS 300290Toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products | $5.7B | $2.5K | $3.1B | +19.2% | 5 | +0.0% |
| HS 330300Perfumes and toilet waters | $5.2B | $61.8K | $2.5B | +10.5% | 4 | +0.0% |
| HS 300439Medicaments: containing hormones (but not insulin), adrenal cortex hormones or antibiotics, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $3.0B | $9.0K | $2.0B | +0.9% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 382319Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids) | $1.3B | $98.5K | $1.9B | +1074.1% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 330210Odoriferous substances and mixtures: of a kind used in the food or drink industries | $529.8M | $127.6 | $535.0M | -2.4% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 340130Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap | $735.1M | $436.6 | $479.5M | +293.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 340319Lubricating preparations: (other than for the treatment of textile and similar materials), containing less than 70% (by weight) of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals | $371.3M | $29.1 | $457.6M | -77.8% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 370790Photographic goods: chemical preparations other than sensitised emulsions, put up in measured portions or put up for retail sale in a form ready for use | $478.9M | $713.5 | $380.9M | +11.5% | 1 | +0.0% |
| HS 321410Mastics: painters' fillings | $374.0M | $261.4 | $368.2M | +75.3% | 1 | +0.0% |
Best markets
Where does sector demand concentrate?
Markets are ranked by calculated opportunity across the qualifying products in this sector view.
CHE
Switzerland, Liechtenstein
1 products represented in the sector.
$27.7B$41.0B reported buyer importsCHN
China
5 products represented in the sector.
$14.0B$20.0B reported buyer importsUSA
USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
6 products represented in the sector.
$13.9B$30.8B reported buyer importsGBR
United Kingdom
7 products represented in the sector.
$10.9B$25.1B reported buyer importsCAN
Canada
7 products represented in the sector.
$8.1B$12.7B reported buyer importsNLD
Netherlands
5 products represented in the sector.
$7.5B$15.9B reported buyer importsBEL
Belgium
1 products represented in the sector.
$7.0B$18.6B reported buyer importsFRA
France
6 products represented in the sector.
$5.5B$18.7B reported buyer importsDEU
Germany
4 products represented in the sector.
$4.6B$11.6B reported buyer importsZAF
South Africa
4 products represented in the sector.
$4.5B$4.0B reported buyer importsIRL
Ireland
2 products represented in the sector.
$3.5B$6.8B reported buyer importsARE
United Arab Emirates
3 products represented in the sector.
$1.2B$2.6B reported buyer importsGrowth stars
Which products show the strongest growth?
Average product-level CAGR is a screening signal. Confirm the latest trend, base effects, buyer quality, and commercial feasibility before acting.
| Product | Average CAGR | Opportunity | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 382319Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids: acid oils from refining: (other than stearic acid, oleic acid or tall oil fatty acids) | +1074.1% | $1.9B | 1 |
| HS 340130Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap | +293.8% | $479.5M | 1 |
| HS 321410Mastics: painters' fillings | +75.3% | $368.2M | 1 |
| HS 282200Cobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides | +46.5% | $7.6B | 2 |
| HS 330499Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations) | +33.2% | $10.8B | 13 |
| HS 382499Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824 | +28.6% | $13.2B | 8 |
| HS 300290Toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products | +19.2% | $3.1B | 5 |
| HS 370790Photographic goods: chemical preparations other than sensitised emulsions, put up in measured portions or put up for retail sale in a form ready for use | +11.5% | $380.9M | 1 |
| HS 300212Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: antisera and other blood fractions | +11.3% | $4.7B | 2 |
| HS 330300Perfumes and toilet waters | +10.5% | $2.5B | 4 |
Diversification opportunities
Which products reach the widest buyer base?
Destination count is a simple breadth indicator. It does not measure destination concentration or guarantee resilience.
HS 330499
Cosmetic and toilet preparations: n.e.c. in heading no. 3304, for the care of the skin (excluding medicaments, including sunscreen or sun tan preparations)
13 markets$10.8B calculated opportunityHS 300490
Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
11 markets$56.3B calculated opportunityHS 382200
Reagents: diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing and prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, other than those of heading no. 3002 or 3006: certified reference material
10 markets$9.1B calculated opportunityHS 382499
Chemical products, mixtures and preparations: n.e.c. heading 3824
8 markets$13.2B calculated opportunityHS 300290
Toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar products
5 markets$3.1B calculated opportunityHS 330300
Perfumes and toilet waters
4 markets$2.5B calculated opportunityHS 282200
Cobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxides
2 markets$7.6B calculated opportunityHS 300212
Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological products: antisera and other blood fractions
2 markets$4.7B calculated opportunityFrequently asked questions
Using the Chemicals export playbook
Practical guidance for interpreting sector scale, growth, product breadth, and buyer markets.
How strong is Zambia in this sector?
Compare sector exports, product breadth, buyer markets, growth, and global demand. These signals identify research priorities rather than guarantee market access.
What are growth stars?
Products with higher average reported growth in the screened rows. Validate the time period, base effects, buyer demand, and current exporter position.
What does diversification mean here?
Products reaching more buyer markets in the screened data. Destination breadth is useful context but does not replace concentration, route, or buyer analysis.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.