The US imports $60B+ in chemicals annually — specialty chemicals, resins, fertilizers, pharmaceutical ingredients, and industrial compounds. Chemical freight is high-value, heavily regulated, and requires specialized carriers. Manifest data identifies who is importing what and from where.
| Country | US Market Share | Products Exported |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | ~14% | Specialty chemicals, adhesives, coatings, pharma intermediates |
| China | ~13% | Industrial chemicals, fertilizers, API pharma ingredients |
| Belgium | ~8% | Petrochemicals, specialty polymers, catalysts |
| Netherlands | ~7% | Bulk chemicals, agrochemicals, chemical feedstocks |
| India | ~6% | Generic APIs, agrochemicals, dyes and pigments |
Companies like Univar, Brenntag, and ICC Chemical import and distribute industrial chemicals. They move large, consistent volumes of commodity chemicals. Manifest data reveals their supply chain and which overseas suppliers they use.
US pharma companies import Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from India and China. Post-COVID supply chain diversification has increased these flows significantly. High-value, temperature-sensitive, and heavily documented.
Fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide importers serve US agriculture. Demand spikes pre-planting season. Many imports from China and India include potassium, nitrogen compounds, and pesticide formulations.
Representative records from US CBP public manifest filings
| Shipper | Product | US Consignee | Port | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASF SE GERMANY | SPECIALTY CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS | BASF CORP USA | Houston | 82,400 KG |
| SYNGENTA AG SWITZERLAND | AGROCHEMICAL FORMULATIONS | SYNGENTA CORP | Savannah | 34,800 KG |
| LUPIN LIMITED INDIA | PHARMACEUTICAL API | LUPIN PHARMA USA | New York | 8,200 KG |
| WANHUA CHEMICAL GROUP | MDI POLYURETHANE | US CHEMICAL DIST LLC | Houston | 96,000 KG |
"specialty chemical" or "adhesive" imports from Germany, Netherlands"fertilizer" or "potassium chloride" imports by origin country"resin" or "polymer" imports to plastics manufacturers"pharmaceutical ingredient" or "API" from India, China"paint" or "coating" chemical imports to industrial hubsUN hazard classifications, proper documentation, carrier vetting for hazmat — chemical freight is not for generalist brokers. Specialists who know the regulations and have vetted hazmat carrier networks command premium rates and build lasting relationships.
US chemical importers have been actively diversifying away from single-source supply chains since 2020. New supplier relationships mean new freight relationships. Manifest data captures these new trade flows as they emerge.
Fertilizer imports surge January–March as farmers prepare for planting season. Knowing which importers are ramping up volume during this window lets you secure specialized tanker and bulk chemical capacity before the market tightens.
CBP manifest records include product descriptions and may include UN hazard codes depending on the filing. Most manifest records identify chemical categories well enough to determine if specialized handling is needed.
Yes. Pharmaceutical ingredient importers are well-represented in manifest data. Search terms like "pharmaceutical ingredient," "active pharmaceutical," or specific compound names surface relevant importers.
Most publicly available manifest data focuses on containerized ocean freight. Bulk liquid shipments by tanker vessel may have different data availability. Tank container imports are covered under the standard manifest database.
Filter by port (Houston, New Orleans, Port Arthur are the primary Gulf Coast chemical ports) and by consignee address. The Gulf Coast handles the majority of bulk and specialty chemical imports to the US.
10M+ manifest records covering chemicals and every other US import category. Find importers, track volumes, and build your freight prospect list.
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