Stearic acid trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in stearic acid was worth $1.49 billion in 2024, about 1.33 million tonnes. That is an increase of 32% since 2017, and up 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 | $1.49B | 1.33M t |
| 2023 | $1.47B | 1.30M t |
| 2022 | $2.00B | 1.26M t |
| 2021 | $1.70B | 1.34M t |
| 2020 | $1.04B | 1.16M t |
| 2019 | $995.8M | 1.34M t |
| 2018 | $1.15B | 1.31M t |
| 2017 | $1.13B | 1.17M t |
Top stearic acid exporting countries
Exports are led by Indonesia (50%), Malaysia (26%) and the Netherlands (5%). 86 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 80%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | $738.9M | 50% |
| Malaysia | $390.9M | 26% |
| Netherlands | $67.3M | 4.5% |
| Germany | $48.0M | 3.2% |
| Belgium | $41.4M | 2.8% |
| Sweden | $39.4M | 2.7% |
| China | $36.5M | 2.5% |
| United States | $32.7M | 2.2% |
| Italy | $29.9M | 2% |
| Argentina | $15.6M | 1.1% |
| India | $9.4M | 0.6% |
| Spain | $6.0M | 0.4% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
China is the biggest buyer with 17% of world imports, ahead of the Netherlands and Germany. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 29% across 166 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $247.8M | 17% |
| Netherlands | $102.2M | 6.9% |
| Germany | $88.8M | 6% |
| United States | $84.1M | 5.7% |
| South Korea | $79.4M | 5.3% |
| Turkey | $78.1M | 5.2% |
| Malaysia | $75.3M | 5.1% |
| Vietnam | $56.2M | 3.8% |
| India | $54.7M | 3.7% |
| Mexico | $47.0M | 3.2% |
| Thailand | $45.6M | 3.1% |
| Singapore | $41.5M | 2.8% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $1.12 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Belgium averaged $1.92 per kg and Indonesia $0.96 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.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Stearic acid (HS 3823.11) 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 3823.11: Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils from refining: stearic acid. HS 3823 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most stearic acid?
Indonesia exported $738.9 million in 2024, 50% of the world total, followed by Malaysia (26%) and the Netherlands (5%). In all, 86 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most stearic acid?
China imported $247.8 million in 2024, 17% of world imports, ahead of the Netherlands (7%) and Germany (6%). The top three importers together take 29%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in stearic acid?
It was worth $1.49 billion in 2024, about 1.33 million tonnes. That is an increase of 32% since 2017. The peak year was 2022 at $2.00 billion. 86 countries reported exports and 166 reported imports.
What is the average price of stearic acid per kg?
The world average declared value was about $1.12 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Belgium averaged $1.92 per kg and Indonesia $0.96 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 stearic acid?
The HS code for stearic acid is subheading 3823.11, in chapter 38 (chemical products n.e.c.). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 3823 page.
How can I find stearic acid buyers and suppliers?
The rankings here stop at countries; EximDataX goes down to the companies trading stearic acid, from direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your markets to see them live.
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