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Plastics and articles thereof

39 (Harmonized System 1992 for 2-digit)

2023
World Trade $745BRnk 7 / 96
2023
Top Exporter | Top Importer $124B | $79.6BChina | United States
2023
Product Complexity 1.24Rnk 12 / 96
2022 - 2023
Export Growth (CAGR) -14.3%Rnk 85 / 96
2023
Share of World Trade 3.3%Rnk 7 / 96

About

Overview This page contains the latest trade data of Plastics & articles thereof. In 2023, Plastics & articles thereof were the world's 7th most traded product, with a total trade of $745B. Between 2022 and 2023 the exports of Plastics & articles thereof decreased by -14.3%, from $870B to $745B. Trade in Plastics & articles thereof represent 3.3% of total world trade.

Plastics & articles thereof are a part of Plastics and Rubbers. They include Other Plastic Products, Ethylene Polymers, Polyacetals, Raw Plastic Sheeting, Plastic Lids, Propylene Polymers, Styrene Polymers, Other Plastic Sheetings, Plastic Pipes, and Vinyl Chloride Polymers, among others.

Exports In 2023 the top exporters of Plastics & articles thereof  were China ($124B), United States ($89.1B), Germany ($80.4B), South Korea ($33.4B), and Japan ($28.2B).

Imports In 2023 the top importers of Plastics & articles thereof were United States ($79.6B), China ($63.7B), Germany ($50.1B), Mexico ($30.5B), and France ($29B).

Ranking Plastics & articles thereof ranks 12th in the Product Complexity Index (PCI).

Latest Trends

Latest Data

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Y-AXIS SCALE

The following visualization shows the latest trends on Plastics & articles thereof. Countries are shown based on data availability.

For a full breakdown of trade patterns, visit the trend explorer or the product in country profile.

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* Trade values are converted to USD using each month's exchange rate. For December 2023 data, the exchange rate from December 30, 2023 is used.

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Historical Data

Exporters and Importers

Top Origin (2023)China$124B
Top Destination (2023)United States$79.6B

In 2023 Plastics & articles thereof were the world's 7th most traded product (out of 96).

In 2023, the top exporters of Plastics & articles thereof were China ($124B), United States ($89.1B), Germany ($80.4B), South Korea ($33.4B), and Japan ($28.2B).

In 2023, the top importers of Plastics & articles thereof were United States ($79.6B), China ($63.7B), Germany ($50.1B), Mexico ($30.5B), and France ($29B).

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Exporters of Plastics & articles thereof (2023)
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Importers of Plastics & articles thereof (2023)
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Market Dynamics

Color
Top Origin Growth (2022 -  2023)Ireland$730M
Top Destination Growth (2022 -  2023)Ukraine$459M

Between 2022 and 2023, the exports of Plastics & articles thereof grew the fastest in Ireland ($730M), Kazakhstan ($191M), Gambia ($130M), Azerbaijan ($73.3M), and Ghana ($62.2M).

Between 2022 and 2023, the fastest growing importers of Plastics & articles thereof were Ukraine ($459M), Uzbekistan ($193M), Libya ($135M), North Korea ($92.1M), and India ($90.6M).

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Exporters of Plastics & articles thereof (2022 - 2023)

Importers of Plastics & articles thereof (2022 - 2023)

Market Concentration

Value

This chart shows the evolution of the market concentration of exports of Plastics & articles thereof.

In 2023, market concentration measured using Shannon Entropy, was 4.79. This means that most of the exports of Plastics & articles thereof are explained by 27 countries.

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Value of Exports in Plastics & articles thereof

Net Trade

TOP NET EXPORTER (2023)China$60.6B
TOP NET IMPORTER (2023)Mexico$19.6B

This map shows which countries export or import more of Plastics & articles thereof. Each country is colored based on the difference in exports and imports of Plastics & articles thereof during 2023.

In 2023, the countries that had a largest trade value in exports than in imports of Plastics & articles thereof were China ($60.6B), Germany ($30.3B), South Korea ($21.2B), Saudi Arabia ($14.5B), and Chinese Taipei ($11.8B).

In 2023, the countries that had a largest trade value in imports than in exports of Plastics & articles thereof were Mexico ($19.6B), India ($15.2B), United Kingdom ($7.62B), Brazil ($6.88B), and Indonesia ($6.53B).

Net Trade (2023)

Disaggregation

Value
Disaggregation

In 2023, the world most traded Plastics & articles thereof, disaggragated by their HS6 level were Other Plastic Products ($140B), Ethylene Polymers ($85.2B), Raw Plastic Sheeting ($63.6B), Polyacetals ($63.3B), and Plastic Lids ($63.3B)

HS6 Disaggregation for Plastics & articles thereof (2023)
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Country Comparison

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Measure
Ranking

This visualization shows the countries that have an important ratio of their trade related to Plastics & articles thereof.
It is possible to select the main countries that export or import Plastics & articles thereof in the world, or by continent, as well as select the measure of interest.

Top 10 Exporters Countries of Plastics & articles thereof by percentage of total exports

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

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TOP EXPORT POTENTIALIndia+ $3.17B
TOP IMPORT POTENTIALUnited States+ $1.52B

Plastics & articles thereof’s highest export potential is India. With an export gap of $3.17B.  Plastics & articles thereof’s highest import potential is United States with an import gap of $1.52B.

See methodology.

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Product Complexity

Diversification Frontier

Specialization

The Complexity-Relatedness diagram compares the risk and the strategic value of a product's potential export opportunities. Relatedness is predictive of the probability that a country increases its exports in a product. Complexity, is associated with higher levels of income, economic growth potential, lower income inequality, and lower emissions.

Relatedness vs Country Complexity (2023)

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