Polylactic acid exports from the United States: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of polylactic acid by the United States reached $196.4 million in 2024 (74.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 67 countries. That is 19% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $254.5 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $196.4M | 74.4K t |
| 2023 | $165.5M | 60.1K t |
| 2022 | $254.5M | 88.6K t |
| 2021 | $246.9M | 94.1K t |
| 2020 | $236.8M | 101.7K t |
| 2019 | $208.9M | 98.8K t |
| 2018 | $197.4M | 95.6K t |
| 2017 | $159.9M | 77.9K t |
Where the United States exports polylactic acid to
The largest buyer markets were China (29%), Netherlands (28%), Taiwan (13%). Among the main buyer markets, Malaysia grew fastest (+362% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $56.3M | 29% |
| Netherlands | $54.9M | 28% |
| Taiwan | $24.9M | 13% |
| Japan | $8.8M | 4.5% |
| Vietnam | $4.9M | 2.5% |
| Germany | $4.8M | 2.5% |
| United Kingdom | $4.8M | 2.5% |
| South Korea | $3.9M | 2% |
| Qatar | $3.6M | 1.9% |
| Malaysia | $3.4M | 1.7% |
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.64 per kg, close to the world average of $2.72.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Polylactic acid imports to the United States
The United States imported $21.3 million of polylactic acid in 2024 (5.1 thousand tonnes). It ranks 7th of 129 countries for imports of this product. The largest suppliers were Thailand (46%), Netherlands (24%), Germany (19%). Among the main suppliers, Thailand grew fastest (+124% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $9.8M | 46% |
| Netherlands | $5.1M | 24% |
| Germany | $4.2M | 20% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.2M | 5.5% |
| Canada | $279K | 1.3% |
| Finland | $163K | 0.8% |
| Ireland | $146K | 0.7% |
| Belgium | $133K | 0.6% |
| China | $47K | 0.2% |
| Switzerland | $45K | 0.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States polylactic acid exports (HS 3907.70): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
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 3907.70: Poly(lactic acid): in primary forms.
Common questions
What is the value of polylactic acid exported by the United States?
The United States exported polylactic acid worth $196.4 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 74.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 67 countries worldwide, with 37% of world exports. The value was up 19% on 2023.
Which countries buy polylactic acid from the United States?
China was the largest buyer with 29% of the value ($56.3 million), followed by the Netherlands (28%) and Taiwan (13%). The top three together account for 69%, out of 78 buyer countries in total. Malaysia grew fastest among the top ten, up 362% on the year.
What is the average export price of polylactic acid per kg?
The average declared export value was about $2.64 per kg in 2024, close to the world average of $2.72 per kg. Because it averages all grades and sizes, treat the figure as a market benchmark, not a price offer.
How have exports of polylactic acid from the United States changed since 2017?
Exports went from $159.9 million in 2017 to $196.4 million in 2024, an increase of 23%. The peak was 2022 at $254.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $208.3 million a year.
Does the United States also import polylactic acid?
Yes. The United States imported $21.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from Thailand, the Netherlands and Germany. On balance the United States is a net exporter of this product, by about $175.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for polylactic acid?
The HS code for polylactic acid is subheading 3907.70. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3907 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States, so the importers and exporters behind these totals are visible by name, shipment by shipment. Ask for a live look at your product.
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