Cellulose ethers (other) trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in cellulose ethers (other) was worth $3.13 billion in 2024, about 508.0 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 33% since 2017, and down 1% 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 | $3.13B | 508.0K t |
| 2023 | $3.17B | 455.1K t |
| 2022 | $3.61B | 507.2K t |
| 2021 | $3.09B | 486.5K t |
| 2020 | $2.76B | 444.6K t |
| 2019 | $2.61B | 420.5K t |
| 2018 | $2.62B | 416.8K t |
| 2017 | $2.35B | 387.6K t |
Top cellulose ethers (other) exporting countries
Germany is the largest exporter with 23% of world exports, followed by China and the United States. The top three supply 59% between them, out of 111 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | $718.2M | 23% |
| China | $629.9M | 20% |
| United States | $493.6M | 16% |
| South Korea | $374.7M | 12% |
| Belgium | $239.8M | 7.7% |
| Japan | $224.8M | 7.2% |
| Netherlands | $136.1M | 4.3% |
| Sweden | $114.7M | 3.7% |
| France | $24.7M | 0.8% |
| India | $18.0M | 0.6% |
| Mexico | $14.1M | 0.5% |
| Poland | $14.0M | 0.5% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
India is the biggest buyer with 12% of world imports, ahead of the United States and China. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 25% across 183 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $388.9M | 12% |
| United States | $242.3M | 7.7% |
| China | $159.2M | 5.1% |
| Turkey | $133.1M | 4.3% |
| Germany | $106.8M | 3.4% |
| Italy | $102.1M | 3.3% |
| Brazil | $102.0M | 3.3% |
| Mexico | $99.0M | 3.2% |
| Poland | $96.0M | 3.1% |
| France | $88.4M | 2.8% |
| Russia | $81.4M | 2.6% |
| Belgium | $76.0M | 2.4% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $6.16 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $16.84 per kg and China $3.29 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 Cellulose ethers (other) (HS 3912.39) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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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 3912.39: Cellulose ethers: (other than carboxymethylcellulose and its salts), in primary forms. HS 3912 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most cellulose ethers (other)?
Germany exported $718.2 million in 2024, 23% of the world total, followed by China (20%) and the United States (16%). In all, 111 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most cellulose ethers (other)?
India imported $388.9 million in 2024, 12% of world imports, ahead of the United States (8%) and China (5%). The top three importers together take 25%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in cellulose ethers (other)?
It was worth $3.13 billion in 2024, about 508.0 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 33% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $3.61 billion. 111 countries reported exports and 183 reported imports.
What is the average price of cellulose ethers (other) per kg?
The world average declared value was about $6.16 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Japan averaged $16.84 per kg and China $3.29 per kg, so grade and origin matter. The average mixes every grade and size, so use it as a market reference rather than an offer.
What is the HS code for cellulose ethers (other)?
The HS code for cellulose ethers (other) is subheading 3912.39, in chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 3912 page.
How can I find cellulose ethers (other) buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading cellulose ethers (other), from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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