Analysis of China's Polyurethane Export Data in the First Three Quarters of 2025
“Polyurethane can be called the "versatile material" hidden in everyday life. From comfortable memory foam mattresses to lightweight sports shoe soles, from shock-absorbing and supportive car seats to flexible and drop-resistant phone cases, it permeates every corner of daily life in myriad forms. As an important polymer material, polyurethane is widely used in numerous fields such as furniture, construction, transportation, footwear materials, electronics, medical devices, and aerospace due to its excellent properties.”
Polyurethane can be called the "versatile material" hidden in everyday life. From comfortable memory foam mattresses to lightweight sports shoe soles, from shock-absorbing and supportive car seats to flexible and drop-resistant phone cases, it permeates every corner of daily life in myriad forms. As an important polymer material, polyurethane is widely used in numerous fields such as furniture, construction, transportation, footwear materials, electronics, medical devices, and aerospace due to its excellent properties.
From a global perspective, the worldwide polyurethane market size is projected to exceed USD 100 billion by 2025 and is expected to reach over USD 130 billion by 2030. The compound annual growth rate during the 2025-2031 period is forecast at 3.5%, demonstrating a stable and sustained growth trend.
China's Polyurethane Export Situation in the First Three Quarters of 2025
According to customs data, China's exports of polyurethane (HS code: 39095000, Polyurethane in primary forms) from January to September 2025 reached approximately USD 778 million, an increase of USD 53.31 million compared to the same period last year, representing a year-on-year growth of 7.36%.
Regarding the average export price, the average price for Chinese polyurethane exports from January to September 2025 was USD 2.28 per kilogram, a decrease of 3.17% year-on-year. This decline in the average export price is attributed to multiple factors, including capacity expansion by leading domestic enterprises despite market challenges, continuously low raw material prices, sluggish global economic growth, reduced international market demand, and trade barrier measures such as anti-dumping duties and additional tariffs imposed by some countries and regions on Chinese polyurethane products, which increased export costs.
Statistics by export destination show that Vietnam was the largest export destination for China's polyurethane from January to September 2025, with an export value of USD 157 million, followed by India and Brazil, with export values of USD 86.67 million and USD 46.32 million, respectively.
Notably, exports to Turkey from January to September 2025 saw a significant year-on-year increase of 246.79%. Reasons for this surge include the renewal of the local currency swap agreement between China and Turkey in 2025, which facilitated bilateral trade. Additionally, the Turkish government's policies, such as tariff exemptions, expansion of charging infrastructure, and vehicle purchase subsidies, accelerated the adoption of new energy vehicles, driving growth in automotive materials like polyurethane elastomers.
Specifically, by country, China exported polyurethane to 127 countries and regions from January to September 2025, an increase of 6 compared to the same period in 2024. Nearly seventy percent of these markets saw positive year-on-year growth in export value. Among the top 20 export markets, 8 markets experienced export value growth exceeding 10% year-on-year, and 2 markets saw growth exceeding 70% year-on-year.
From a regional analysis perspective, Asia is the primary export destination for China's polyurethane, accounting for 72.11% of the total export volume. Among the major export regions from January to September 2025, exports to Asia amounted to USD 561 million, a year-on-year increase of 5.15%; exports to Latin America reached USD 90.82 million, up 13.17% year-on-year; and exports to Africa were USD 50.31 million, surging 61.19% year-on-year. Regions experiencing a decline in export value included: Europe with USD 63.41 million, down 2.18% year-on-year; North America with USD 6.33 million, down 49.44% year-on-year; and Oceania with USD 5.98 million, down 31.14% year-on-year.
In terms of major domestic exporting provinces and municipalities, the top five from January to September 2025 were Zhejiang, Shandong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, whose combined export value accounted for 95.92% of the total. They were followed by Fujian, Hebei, Sichuan, Anhui, and Chongqing, with export values of USD 9.09 million, USD 7.94 million, USD 2.20 million, USD 1.88 million, and USD 1.56 million, respectively.
Global Market Distribution and Characteristics of Polyurethane
Industry Chain Situation
Upstream: Raw Materials
From an industry chain perspective, the upstream sector of the polyurethane chain primarily involves various chemical raw materials and intermediates such as pure benzene, propylene oxide, BDO, polypropylene glycol, PTMEG, and phosgene.
Representative enterprises include: BASF (Germany), Covestro (Germany), Dow (US), Huntsman (US), Huafon Chemical, Juhua Group, Longhua New Material, etc.
Midstream: Synthesis and Manufacturing
The midstream sector mainly involves the direct intermediates for synthesizing polyurethane, including MDI, TDI, polyether polyols, and polyester polyols.
Representative enterprises include: Yinuowei, Hongbaoli, Sinochem Dongda, Shandong Shangzheng New Materials, Longhua New Material, etc.
Downstream: Application Segments
This primarily includes two major systems: foams (rigid foam, flexible foam) and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers). Applications span areas like building energy efficiency, automotive manufacturing, consumer and industrial goods, etc.
Major Global Consumption Markets
Asia-Pacific Market: The World's Largest Production and Consumption Center
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for approximately 45% of global consumption, with China alone representing about 38% of the global total. This is driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization, particularly the rapid growth in building energy efficiency and automotive manufacturing.
North American Market: Technology and Policy Driven
As a mature market for polyurethane, North America holds about 22% of the global market, with an annual growth rate stable around 3.5%. Automotive lightweighting and electronic potting are core growth drivers, with a focus on innovation and sustainable technologies.
European Market: Eco-Friendly Driven Transformation
Similar to the North American market, Europe focuses on innovation and sustainability, with a strict environmental regulatory framework shaping product development directions.
Emerging Markets: Regions with the Fastest Future Growth
Emerging markets such as India and South America are expected to be the fastest-growing regions for polyurethane in the future, with demand across various sectors in a rapid upward phase.
Market Development Suggestions for Polyurethane Enterprises
Based on the polyurethane export situation in the first half of 2025, Asian and Latin American countries like Vietnam and Brazil are major export destinations for Chinese polyurethane. Driven by factors such as infrastructure and manufacturing relocation, increasing focus on environmental protection and sustainability, and new growth opportunities in emerging sectors, demand in regions like Asia, the Middle East, South America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Africa will continue to increase.
Polyurethane enterprises can focus on markets such as Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, etc. Taking the Brazilian market as an example, the recent trade transactions of polyurethane imports from China to Brazil can be intuitively observed through the Guomaotong Big Data Artificial Intelligence DaaS system.
Notes on Polyurethane Export
Core Document Standardization
Most polyurethane products (such as resins, sealants) are classified as Class 3 Flammable Liquids or Class 8 Corrosive Substances due to containing isocyanates and flammable additives. Key indicators such as flash point and corrosiveness must be determined through testing by professional institutions.
Dangerous Goods Transport Documents: Submit a Dangerous Goods Declaration, marking key information such as UN number, dangerous goods class, flash point, etc. For less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments mixed with Class 3, 6, 8, or 9 dangerous goods, a shipping company-approved mixed loading certificate is required.
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): An English version is required, clearly stating precise component values, and highlighting physicochemical properties, transport prohibitions, and emergency handling measures, for review by shipping lines and customs.
Basic Customs Declaration Documents: Include commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration form, and customs declaration power of attorney. Ensure the commodity code aligns with product attributes. Declaration elements must specify composition, use, and packaging method.
Destination-Specific Documents: Exports to the EU require an additional ADR road transport compliance declaration. Exports to the US require a copy of FDA certification. Exports to Turkey require a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and KKDIK registration documents.
Essential Qualifications and Certifications
Domestic Qualifications: Exporting dangerous goods requires providing the original Use Identification Result Sheet for Dangerous Goods Packaging(Dangerous Goods Package Certificate). Applying for this requires submitting product test reports and packaging performance sheets, and applying at least 10 working days in advance to ensure booking timeliness. Some products require an export license, involving the submission of enterprise qualifications and quality inspection reports.
International Certifications: The EU market requires compliance with REACH regulation Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) testing. Construction-grade polyurethane needs CE marking. US automotive polyurethane requires FDA food-contact grade certification. Medical-use products require submission of DMF files. Exports to Turkey require a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and KKDIK registration documents.
With increasing global safety and environmental awareness, and the expanding application of polyurethane in fields such as building energy efficiency, automotive, and home appliances, future industry demand for polyurethane will continue to grow. For the polyurethane industry in 2025, challenges are unprecedented, yet opportunities are also embedded within. For Chinese polyurethane enterprises, focusing on the latest international trade data changes, strengthening technological R&D, improving product quality, promoting green production, and continuously innovating to enhance their competitiveness are essential to remain invincible in the fierce international market competition.
