Butanol trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in butanol was worth $765.9 million in 2024, about 674.7 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 4% since 2017, and up 2% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $765.9M | 674.7K t |
| 2023 | $752.0M | 690.0K t |
| 2022 | $984.4M | 687.9K t |
| 2021 | $1.07B | 674.6K t |
| 2020 | $602.5M | 826.8K t |
| 2019 | $723.8M | 794.0K t |
| 2018 | $834.8M | 802.6K t |
| 2017 | $797.6M | 910.3K t |
Top butanol exporting countries
South Africa is the largest exporter with 23% of world exports, followed by Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. The top three supply 53% between them, out of 68 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $179.9M | 24% |
| Taiwan | $125.0M | 16% |
| Saudi Arabia | $99.6M | 13% |
| Malaysia | $86.2M | 11% |
| United States | $63.9M | 8.3% |
| Germany | $52.8M | 6.9% |
| France | $47.2M | 6.2% |
| Belgium | $31.3M | 4.1% |
| China | $27.7M | 3.6% |
| Poland | $14.0M | 1.8% |
| Russia | $7.8M | 1% |
| India | $6.4M | 0.8% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 16% of world imports, ahead of Belgium and Germany. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 47% across 153 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $125.5M | 16% |
| Belgium | $119.2M | 16% |
| Germany | $112.0M | 15% |
| India | $74.3M | 9.7% |
| South Korea | $56.6M | 7.4% |
| Singapore | $35.2M | 4.6% |
| Indonesia | $24.9M | 3.3% |
| Brazil | $21.8M | 2.8% |
| United Kingdom | $14.3M | 1.9% |
| Czech Republic | $14.2M | 1.9% |
| Thailand | $13.8M | 1.8% |
| United States | $11.5M | 1.5% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.14 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $1.42 per kg and Malaysia $1.00 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Butanol (HS 2905.13) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2905.13: Alcohols: saturated monohydric, butan-1-ol (n-butyl alcohol). HS 2905 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most butanol?
South Africa exported $179.9 million in 2024, 23% of the world total, followed by Taiwan (16%) and Saudi Arabia (13%). In all, 68 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most butanol?
China imported $125.5 million in 2024, 16% of world imports, ahead of Belgium (16%) and Germany (15%). The top three importers together take 47%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in butanol?
It was worth $765.9 million in 2024, about 674.7 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 4% since 2017. The peak year was 2021 at $1.07 billion. 68 countries reported exports and 153 reported imports.
What is the average price of butanol per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.14 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Germany averaged $1.42 per kg and Malaysia $1.00 per kg, so grade and origin matter. Read it as a benchmark: it blends all grades, origins and contract terms.
What is the HS code for butanol?
The HS code for butanol is subheading 2905.13, in chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 2905 page.
How can I find butanol buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show butanol buyers and suppliers on a short call.
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