Formic acid trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in formic acid was worth $352.9 million in 2024, about 504.7 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 21% since 2017, and down 10% 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 | $352.9M | 504.7K t |
| 2023 | $394.0M | 482.1K t |
| 2022 | $504.5M | 467.6K t |
| 2021 | $388.2M | 534.1K t |
| 2020 | $239.9M | 451.3K t |
| 2019 | $291.7M | 482.9K t |
| 2018 | $437.1M | 497.5K t |
| 2017 | $291.5M | 448.4K t |
Top formic acid exporting countries
China is the largest exporter with 42% of world exports, followed by Germany and Finland. The top three supply 74% between them, out of 75 exporting countries.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $147.4M | 42% |
| Germany | $68.9M | 20% |
| Finland | $43.4M | 12% |
| Netherlands | $29.1M | 8.3% |
| United States | $18.4M | 5.2% |
| Sweden | $13.4M | 3.8% |
| Belgium | $11.0M | 3.1% |
| Norway | $3.2M | 0.9% |
| Spain | $2.6M | 0.7% |
| France | $2.4M | 0.7% |
| United Kingdom | $2.0M | 0.6% |
| New Zealand | $1.5M | 0.4% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
The largest importers are the Netherlands (12%), Germany (7%) and Spain (6%). 164 countries imported it, and the top three take 25% of the value.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $42.9M | 12% |
| Germany | $23.9M | 6.8% |
| Spain | $21.9M | 6.2% |
| Brazil | $20.0M | 5.7% |
| Belgium | $19.6M | 5.5% |
| Italy | $19.5M | 5.5% |
| Turkey | $16.5M | 4.7% |
| India | $15.5M | 4.4% |
| France | $11.2M | 3.2% |
| Poland | $10.8M | 3.1% |
| Vietnam | $9.1M | 2.6% |
| Japan | $8.9M | 2.5% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $0.70 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Norway averaged $1.32 per kg and China $0.58 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 Formic acid (HS 2915.11) 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 2915.11: Acids: saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids: formic acid. HS 2915 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most formic acid?
China exported $147.4 million in 2024, 42% of the world total, followed by Germany (20%) and Finland (12%). In all, 75 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most formic acid?
The Netherlands imported $42.9 million in 2024, 12% of world imports, ahead of Germany (7%) and Spain (6%). 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 formic acid?
It was worth $352.9 million in 2024, about 504.7 thousand tonnes. That is an increase of 21% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $504.5 million. 75 countries reported exports and 164 reported imports.
What is the average price of formic acid per kg?
The world average declared value was about $0.70 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Norway averaged $1.32 per kg and China $0.58 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 formic acid?
The HS code for formic acid is subheading 2915.11, 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 2915 page.
How can I find formic acid buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading formic acid, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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