Latest trade
$188.8BGlobal sector valueHS2 sector intelligence
Inorganic chemicals
sector trade overview
A clear view of the inorganic chemicals economy: scale, momentum, market concentration, leading routes, and the products within it.
Explore the workspace Reported trade intelligence
Refreshed 2026-07-20
Refreshed 2026-07-20
The numbers at a glanceLatest reported year · 2024
Annual change
+0.3%Latest year on yearExporters
191Active reporting countriesImporters
200Active reporting countriesHS6 products
174Classifications in sectorThe sector read
$188.8B in trade, with +5.2% annualized growth over three years.
Inorganic chemicals is recorded across 10,730 active corridors, with 191 exporters and 200 importers in the latest available year.
Market signalGrowing+7.9% five-year CAGR
Annual trend
Momentum across three decades
Reported global trade from 1995 to 2024. Missing years remain unavailable rather than estimated. Read the methodology ↗
Top trade corridors
Where this sector moves
The leading exporter-to-importer relationships by latest reported sector trade value. See data sources ↗
Latest reported relationshipsTop 10 by trade value
| Rank | Exporter | Importer | Trade value | Growth | HS6 | Distance | FTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChinaCHN | Republic of KoreaKOR | $7.3B | +2.8% | 154 | 867 km | Yes |
| 2 | CanadaCAN | USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin IslandsUSA | $4.4B | +17.3% | 148 | 556 km | Yes |
| 3 | Republic of KoreaKOR | ChinaCHN | $2.8B | -2.1% | 131 | 867 km | Yes |
| 4 | ChinaCHN | JapanJPN | $2.7B | -5.2% | 147 | 1,763 km | No |
| 5 | ChileCHL | ChinaCHN | $2.6B | +61.6% | 14 | 18,861 km | Yes |
| 6 | Democratic Republic of the CongoCOD | ChinaCHN | $2.4B | +24% | 2 | 11,798 km | No |
| 7 | KazakhstanKAZ | RussiaRUS | $2.2B | +57% | 103 | 3,112 km | Yes |
| 8 | USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin IslandsUSA | MexicoMEX | $2.1B | -6% | 167 | 3,359 km | Yes |
| 9 | JapanJPN | IndiaIND | $1.7B | +5.1% | 126 | 5,846 km | Yes |
| 10 | KazakhstanKAZ | ChinaCHN | $1.7B | +36.2% | 18 | 4,117 km | No |
Market structure
Where supply and demand concentrate
Exporter and importer rankings are separated so scale on one side of the market is not mistaken for demand on the other. Check coverage ↗
Top exporters2024 ranking
| Rank | Country | Exports | Partners | HS6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChinaCHN | $28.9B | 197 | 173 |
| 2 | USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin IslandsUSA | $14.5B | 182 | 174 |
| 3 | GermanyDEU | $12.5B | 183 | 174 |
| 4 | Republic of KoreaKOR | $8.9B | 156 | 172 |
| 5 | JapanJPN | $8.0B | 145 | 172 |
| 6 | CanadaCAN | $7.5B | 150 | 173 |
| 7 | AustraliaAUS | $6.7B | 140 | 172 |
| 8 | FranceFRA | $6.6B | 180 | 174 |
| 9 | NetherlandsNLD | $6.1B | 179 | 174 |
| 10 | KazakhstanKAZ | $5.5B | 66 | 164 |
Top importers2024 ranking
| Rank | Country | Imports | Partners | HS6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ChinaCHN | $20.8B | 122 | 173 |
| 2 | USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin IslandsUSA | $20.6B | 129 | 174 |
| 3 | Republic of KoreaKOR | $13.0B | 100 | 172 |
| 4 | IndiaIND | $8.8B | 106 | 173 |
| 5 | GermanyDEU | $8.4B | 111 | 174 |
| 6 | JapanJPN | $7.3B | 81 | 172 |
| 7 | CanadaCAN | $6.5B | 122 | 173 |
| 8 | FranceFRA | $6.2B | 132 | 174 |
| 9 | RussiaRUS | $5.2B | 57 | 173 |
| 10 | NetherlandsNLD | $5.1B | 123 | 174 |
HS6 product coverage
The classifications inside this sector
Explore the six-digit product classifications that make up HS2 28.
217 classifications shownBrowse the product workspace ↗
ChlorineHS6 280110
IodineHS6 280120
Fluorine: bromineHS6 280130
Sulphur: sublimed or precipitated, colloidal sulphurHS6 280200
Carbon: carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.s.HS6 280300
HydrogenHS6 280410
Gases, rare: argonHS6 280421
Gases, rare: other than argonHS6 280429
NitrogenHS6 280430
OxygenHS6 280440
Boron: telluriumHS6 280450
Silicon: containing by weight not less than 99.99% of siliconHS6 280461
Silicon: containing by weight less than 99.99% of siliconHS6 280469
PhosphorusHS6 280470
ArsenicHS6 280480
SeleniumHS6 280490
Alkali or alkali-earth metals: sodiumHS6 280511
Alkali or alkali-earth metals: calciumHS6 280512
Alkali or alkali-earth metals: other than sodium and calciumHS6 280519
Alkaline-earth metals: calciumHS6 280521
Alkaline-earth metals: strontium and bariumHS6 280522
Earth-metals, rare: scandium and yttrium, whether or not intermixed or interalloyedHS6 280530
MercuryHS6 280540
Hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid)HS6 280610
Chlorosulphuric acidHS6 280620
Sulphuric acid: oleumHS6 280700
Nitric acid: sulphonitric acidsHS6 280800
Diphosphorus pentoxideHS6 280910
Phosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acidsHS6 280920
Oxides of boron: boric acidsHS6 281000
Hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid)HS6 281111
Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid)HS6 281112
Inorganic acids: other than hydrogen fluorideHS6 281119
Carbon dioxideHS6 281121
Silicon dioxideHS6 281122
Sulphur dioxideHS6 281123
Inorganic oxygen compounds: of non-metals, n.e.c. in item no. 2811.2HS6 281129
Chlorides and chloride oxidesHS6 281210
Carbonyl dichloride (phosgene)HS6 281211
Phosphorus oxychlorideHS6 281212
Phosphorus trichlorideHS6 281213
Phosphorus pentachlorideHS6 281214
Sulphur monochlorideHS6 281215
Sulphur dichlorideHS6 281216
Thionyl chlorideHS6 281217
Arsenic trichloride and other chlorides and chloride oxides, n.e.c. in item no. 2812HS6 281219
Halides and halide oxides of non-metals: excluding chlorideHS6 281290
Carbon disulphideHS6 281310
Sulphides of non-metals, (excluding carbon): commercial phosphorus trisulphideHS6 281390
Ammonia: anhydrousHS6 281410
Ammonia: in aqueous solutionHS6 281420
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda): solidHS6 281511
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda): in aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda)HS6 281512
Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash)HS6 281520
Peroxides of sodium or potassiumHS6 281530
Hydroxide and peroxide of magnesiumHS6 281610
Oxide, hydroxide and peroxide of strontiumHS6 281620
Oxide, hydroxide and peroxide of bariumHS6 281630
Oxides, hydroxides and peroxides, of strontium or bariumHS6 281640
Zinc: oxide and peroxideHS6 281700
Aluminium oxide: artificial corundumHS6 281810
Aluminium oxide: other than artificial corundumHS6 281820
Aluminium hydroxideHS6 281830
Chromium trioxideHS6 281910
Chromium oxides and hydroxides: excluding chromium trioxideHS6 281990
Manganese dioxideHS6 282010
Manganese oxides: excluding manganese dioxideHS6 282090
Iron oxides and hydroxidesHS6 282110
Earth colours: containing 70% or more by weight of combined iron evaluated as Fe2o3HS6 282120
Cobalt oxides and hydroxides: commercial cobalt oxidesHS6 282200
Titanium oxidesHS6 282300
Lead: lead monoxide (litharge, massicot)HS6 282410
Lead: red and orangeHS6 282420
Lead oxides: n.e.c. in heading no. 2824HS6 282490
Hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic saltsHS6 282510
Lithium oxide and hydroxideHS6 282520
Vanadium oxides and hydroxidesHS6 282530
Nickel oxides and hydroxidesHS6 282540
Copper oxides and hydroxidesHS6 282550
Germanium oxides and zirconium dioxideHS6 282560
Molybdenum oxides and hydroxidesHS6 282570
Antimony oxidesHS6 282580
Inorganic bases, metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides: n.e.s. in heading no. 2825HS6 282590
Fluorides: of ammonium or of sodiumHS6 282611
Fluorides: of aluminiumHS6 282612
Fluorides: other than of ammonium or sodium or aluminiumHS6 282619
Fluorosilicates of sodium or of potassiumHS6 282620
Sodium hexafluoroaluminate (synthetic cryolite)HS6 282630
Fluorides: fluorosilicates, fluoroaluminates and other complex fluorine salts, n.e.s. in heading no. 2826HS6 282690
Chlorides: of ammoniumHS6 282710
Chlorides: of calciumHS6 282720
Chlorides: of magnesiumHS6 282731
Chlorides: of aluminiumHS6 282732
Chlorides: of ironHS6 282733
Chlorides: of cobaltHS6 282734
Chlorides: of nickelHS6 282735
Chlorides: of zincHS6 282736
Chlorides: of tinHS6 282737
Chlorides: of bariumHS6 282738
Chlorides: other than of ammonium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron, cobalt, nickel and zincHS6 282739
Chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides: of copperHS6 282741
Chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides: other than of copperHS6 282749
Bromides: of sodium or of potassiumHS6 282751
Bromides and bromide oxides: other than item no. 2827.51HS6 282759
Iodides and iodide oxidesHS6 282760
Hypochlorites: commercial calcium hypochlorite and other calcium hypochloritesHS6 282810
Hypochlorites: n.e.c. in heading no. 2828HS6 282890
Chlorates: of sodiumHS6 282911
Chlorates: other than sodiumHS6 282919
Perchlorates: bromates and perbromates: iodates and periodatesHS6 282990
Sulphides: of sodiumHS6 283010
Sulphides: of zincHS6 283020
Sulphides: of cadmiumHS6 283030
Sulphides and polysulphides: n.e.c. in heading no. 2830HS6 283090
Dithionites and sulphoxylates: of sodiumHS6 283110
Dithionites and sulphoxylates: other than sodiumHS6 283190
Sulphites: of sodiumHS6 283210
Sulphites: other than of sodiumHS6 283220
ThiosulphatesHS6 283230
Sodium sulphates: disodium sulphateHS6 283311
Sodium sulphates: other than disodium sulphateHS6 283319
Sulphates: of magnesiumHS6 283321
Sulphates: of aluminiumHS6 283322
Sulphates: of chromiumHS6 283323
Sulphates: of nickelHS6 283324
Sulphates: of copperHS6 283325
Sulphates: of zincHS6 283326
Sulphates: of bariumHS6 283327
Sulphates: n.e.s. in item no. 2833.2HS6 283329
AlumsHS6 283330
Peroxosulphates (persulphates)HS6 283340
NitritesHS6 283410
Nitrates: of potassiumHS6 283421
Nitrates: of bismuthHS6 283422
Nitrates: of other than potassium or bismuthHS6 283429
Phosphinates (hypophosphites) and phosphonates (phosphites)HS6 283510
Phosphates: of triammoniumHS6 283521
Phosphates: of mono- or disodiumHS6 283522
Phosphates: of trisodiumHS6 283523
Phosphates: of potassium, whether or not chemically definedHS6 283524
Phosphates: calcium hydrogenorthophosphate (dicalcium phosphate), whether or not chemically definedHS6 283525
Phosphates: of calcium n.e.c. in item no. 2835.25, whether or not chemically definedHS6 283526
Phosphates: (other than of mono- or disodium, other than of potassium or of calcium hydrogenorthophosphate (dicalcium phosphate) and excluding other phosphates of calcium), whether or not chemically definedHS6 283529
Polyphosphates: sodium triphosphate (sodium tripolyphosphate)HS6 283531
Polyphosphates: other than sodium triphosphate (sodium tripolyphosphate), whether or not chemically definedHS6 283539
Carbonates: commercial ammonium carbonate and other ammonium carbonatesHS6 283610
Carbonates: disodium carbonateHS6 283620
Carbonates: sodium hydrogencarbonate (sodium bicarbonate)HS6 283630
Carbonates: potassium carbonateHS6 283640
Carbonates: calcium carbonateHS6 283650
Carbonates: barium carbonateHS6 283660
Carbonates: lead carbonateHS6 283670
Carbonates: lithium carbonateHS6 283691
Carbonates: strontium carbonateHS6 283692
Carbonates: bismuth carbonateHS6 283693
Carbonates: n.e.s. in heading no. 2836 and other than lithium or strontiumHS6 283699
Cyanides and cyanide oxides: of sodiumHS6 283711
Cyanides and cyanide oxides: other than of sodiumHS6 283719
Complex cyanidesHS6 283720
Fulminates, cyanates and thiocyanatesHS6 283800
Silicates: sodium metasilicatesHS6 283911
Silicates: of sodium (excluding sodium metasilicates)HS6 283919
Silicates: of potassiumHS6 283920
Silicates: commercial alkali metal silicates, other than of sodium or potassiumHS6 283990
Borates: disodium tetraborate (refined borax), anhydrousHS6 284011
Borates: disodium tetraborate (refined borax), other than anhydrousHS6 284019
Borates: n.e.c. in heading no. 2840HS6 284020
Peroxoborates (perborates)HS6 284030
Salts: aluminatesHS6 284110
Salts: chromates of zinc or of leadHS6 284120
Salts: sodium dichromateHS6 284130
Salts: potassium dichromateHS6 284140
Salts: chromates, dichromates, peroxochromates: n.e.c. in heading no. 2841HS6 284150
Salts: manganites, manganates and permanganatesHS6 284160
Salts: of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids, manganites, manganates and permanganates, potassium permanganateHS6 284161
Salts: of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids, manganites, manganates and permanganates, other than potassium permanganateHS6 284169
Salts: molybdatesHS6 284170
Salts: tungstates (wolframates)HS6 284180
Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids: n.e.c. in heading no. 2841HS6 284190
Salts: double or complex silicates, including aluminosilicates, whether or not chemically definedHS6 284210
Salts: of inorganic acids or peroxoacids, other than double or complex silicates, including aluminosilicates, whether or not chemically, excluding azidesHS6 284290
Colloidal precious metals: whether or not chemically definedHS6 284310
Silver compounds: silver nitratesHS6 284321
Silver compounds: excluding silver nitratesHS6 284329
Gold compoundsHS6 284330
Inorganic or organic compounds: of precious metals (excluding gold and silver), whether or not chemically defined, amalgams of precious metalsHS6 284390
Uranium: natural uranium and its compounds, alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing natural uranium or natural uranium compoundsHS6 284410
Uranium: enriched in U235, plutonium, their compounds, alloys dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing uranium enriched in U235, plutonium or compounds of these productsHS6 284420
Uranium: depleted in U235, thorium, their compounds, alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing uranium depleted in U235, thorium: compounds of these productsHS6 284430
Radioactive elements, isotopes, compounds, n.e.c. in heading no. 2844 alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing these elements, isotopes or compounds: radioactive residuesHS6 284440
Radioactive elements: tritium and its compounds: alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing tritium or its compoundsHS6 284441
Radioactive elements: actinium-225, 227, californium-253, curium-240, 241, 242, 243, 244, einsteinium-253, 254, gadolinium-148, polonium-208, 209, 210, radium-223, uranium-230 or 232, compounds: alloys, dispersions, ceramic products and mixturesHS6 284442
Radioactive elements, isotopes and compounds: other alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products and mixtures containing these elements, isotopes or compoundsHS6 284443
Radioactive elements, isotopes, compounds n.e.c. in heading no. 2844, alloys, dispersions (including cermets), ceramic products, mixtures containing the elements, isotopes, compounds: radioactive residuesHS6 284444
Spent (irradiated) fuel elements (cartridges) of nuclear reactorsHS6 284450
Heavy water (deuterium oxide)HS6 284510
Boron enriched in boron-10 and its compoundsHS6 284520
Lithium enriched in lithium-6 and its compoundsHS6 284530
Helium-3HS6 284540
Isotopes (excluding those of heading no. 2844): compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically definedHS6 284590
Cerium compoundsHS6 284610
Compounds, inorganic or organic (excluding cerium), of rare-earth metals, of yttrium, scandium or of mixtures of these metalsHS6 284690
Hydrogen peroxide: whether or not solidified with ureaHS6 284700
Phosphides: whether or not chemically defined, excluding ferrophosphorusHS6 284800
Phosphides: of copper (phosphor copper), containing more than 15% by weight of phosphorus, whether or not chemically defined, excluding ferrophosphorusHS6 284810
Phosphides: of metals or non-metals (excluding copper), whether or not chemically defined (excluding ferrophosphorus)HS6 284890
Carbides: of calcium, whether or not chemically definedHS6 284910
Carbides: of silicon, whether or not chemically definedHS6 284920
Carbides: whether or not chemically defined, other than of calcium or siliconHS6 284990
Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically defined, other than compounds which are also carbides of heading no. 2849HS6 285000
Inorganic compounds n.e.s. (including distilled or conductivity water and water of similar purity): liquid air (rare gases removed or not): compressed air: amalgams, other than precious metal amalgamsHS6 285100
Compounds, inorganic or organic, of mercury, excluding amalgamsHS6 285200
Inorganic or organic compounds of mercury, excluding amalgams, chemically definedHS6 285210
Inorganic or organic compounds of mercury: excluding amalgams, not chemically defined,HS6 285290
Inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled or conductivity water and water of similar purity): liquid air (rare gases removed or not): compressed air: amalgams, other than precious metal amalgamsHS6 285300
Inorganic compounds: cyanogen chloride (chlorcyan)HS6 285310
Phosphides, chemically defined or not, not ferrophosphorus: other inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled, conductivity water and water of like purity): liquid air, rare gases removed or not: compressed air: amalgams, not precious metal amalgamsHS6 285390
Definitions and coverage
Read the numbers with context
Clear definitions keep reported observations and calculated indicators in their proper context. Read our Responsible AI principles ↗
Reported values
Trade values describe reported merchandise trade for the HS2 classification. They are not company-level sales, retail quotes, or shipment records.
Calculated indicators
Growth, concentration, volatility, and peak comparisons are calculated from reported observations and should be read with their coverage period.
Missing data
A missing observation remains unavailable. It is not filled, interpolated, or presented as a forecast.
Coverage: 1995–2024 · Data refreshed 2026-07-20 09:34:08
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-27). 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.