Which Petroleum Products to Import from Which Countries: A Complete Guide

Petroleum products import by country

If you need quick direction: import bitumen from Canada, Singapore or Iraq; paraffin wax from China or Germany; petroleum jelly from India or Germany; bentonite from the US or Turkey; calcium carbonate from Egypt or Belgium; soda ash from the US or Turkey; caustic soda from China or India; calcium chloride from China or the US; base oils from South Korea, the US or UAE. 

What factors should decide the origin country?

• Trade reality: Use current exporter rankings to shortlist. See petroleum bitumen trade 2023, paraffin wax exports 2023, petroleum jelly exporters, bentonite 2023, calcium carbonate exports 2023, soda ash exporters 2023, caustic soda exports 2023, and calcium chloride exporters 2023.

• Specs & grades: Match HS codes and industry specs (e.g., penetration grade 60/70 for bitumen; API 13A for bentonite; Group I/II/III for base oils).

• Logistics & risk: Red Sea disruption and Panama Canal variability still move freight rates and transit times; plan alternates. See EU petroleum products ban, Red Sea disruptions 2025, and Panama Canal update 2025.

• Compliance: Sanctions and price-cap rules apply to certain origins for CN/HS 2710 products. Confirm transit, insurance, and attestation rules before contracting.

Cited exporter lists and policy updates.

Where should you buy bitumen, gilsonite, and sulphonated asphalt?

Which countries are the best sources for bitumen (HS 2713.20)?

• Canada, Singapore, Iraq, South Korea — consistently among top exporters by value (2023).

• Practical tip: specify penetration grade (e.g., 60/70, 80/100) and softening point; insist on batch-wise test certificates.

See petroleum bitumen trade 2023.

FAQ — What’s a fast quality screen?
Request Penetration @25 °C, Softening point (R&B), Ductility, and Flash Point with third-party inspection before loading. (Common practice aligned with ASTM D5/D36/D113/D92).

What about gilsonite (natural asphalt, HS 2714.90)?

• United States (Utah) and Iran are principal sources; the US material is mined on federal lands and often sold as “uintaite/asphaltite.” Check HS 271490 for trade flows.
  Example: US shipments appear in 271490 trade records; Utah Geological Survey details the material properties.

See USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025, HS 271490 classification, Gilsonite overview, and 271490 trade examples. 

FAQ — Is “gilsonite” a generic name?
Not exactly. “Gilsonite” is often used generically, but US policy documents note it’s a specific term frequently confused with uintaite/asphaltite. 

Who makes sulphonated asphalt (drilling additive)?

• Manufacturing is concentrated in Asia-Pacific (notably China/India) and North America; demand tracks drilling activity.

• For oilfield blends, prioritize suppliers with API-conforming drilling fluid portfolios and lot consistency.

See regional sulfonated asphalt outlook and drilling fluid market. 

Where should you buy waxes, petroleum jelly, and base/process oils?

Which countries are reliable for paraffin wax (<0.75% oil, HS 2712.20)?

• China, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Malaysia led 2023 exports by value/volume.

• Tip: specify “fully refined” vs “semi-refined,” oil content, congealing point, and color.

See paraffin wax exports 2023. 

FAQ — Can I swap origins mid-contract?
Only if the oil content, congealing point, and viscosity ranges match your QC window; otherwise, reformulation risk rises.

Who exports petroleum jelly (HS 2712.10) at scale?

• India, Germany, United States were top 2023 exporters by value; Nigeria and others are large importers.

• Tip: ask for USP/BP grade conformity if used in cosmetics or pharma-adjacent applications.

See petroleum jelly exporters. 

FAQ — How do I check purity quickly?
Use drop melting point and UV absorbance checks against pharmacopeial specs before clearance.

Where to source base oils / process oils (HS 2710.19; Group I/II/III)?

• South Korea, United States, UAE/Saudi Arabia, Singapore, India, Netherlands are established hubs for Group II/III and naphthenic/neutral stocks; trade is captured under HS 271019 and related subheadings.

• Note: Global base oil trade is nested within refined products; consider hub access and tankage.

See refined petroleum exporters 2023 and trade notes under 271019.

FAQ — Group I vs II vs III?
Higher groups mean higher saturation and VI, lower sulfur, and better oxidation stability—often enabling longer drain intervals.

Where should you buy industrial minerals and natural media?

Which origins are strong for bentonite (HS 2508.10)?

• United States, Turkey, China led 2023 exports; USGS and industry reviews show robust US supply and global growth in 2024.

• Specify API 13A for drilling; OCMA for civil uses.

See bentonite 2023 and USGS clays 2024. 

FAQ — Sodium vs calcium bentonite?
Sodium bentonite swells more (drilling/mud); calcium type suits absorbents and cat litter. Convert via soda activation when needed.

Where to get calcium carbonate (precipitated, HS 2836.50)?

• Egypt, Belgium, France, China ranked among top 2023 exporters.

• Match brightness (ISO), particle size (D50/D90), and coating (stearate) to your application.

See calcium carbonate exports 2023. 

FAQ — PCC vs GCC?
PCC is precipitated with tight control over particle shape/size; GCC is ground mineral—cheaper but less uniform.

Where do walnut shells for filtration/blasting come from?

• Source shells from top walnut-producing countries: China and the United States lead global production; shells are a by-product.

See global walnut production (USDA FAS). 

FAQ — What spec matters for shells?
Sieve distribution, oil content, and moisture. For drilling LCM, specify acid solubility.

Where should you buy inorganic salts & alkalis?

Best origins for soda ash (HS 2836.20)?

• United States, Turkey, China were top exporters in 2023; US natural trona gives a cost edge.

See soda ash exporters 2023. 

FAQ — Dense vs light grade?
Dense suits glass; light fits detergents and chemicals. Grades are interchangeable only with process adjustments.

Who leads caustic soda (HS 2815.11 solid; 2815.12 aqueous)?

• China, India and the EU dominated 2023 solid-grade exports; solution trade is regional due to water weight and HazMat rules.

See caustic soda exports 2023. 

FAQ — Flakes vs pearls vs liquid?
Same chemistry (NaOH); choose form for handling and dosing needs. Verify iron and chloride impurities for sensitive uses.

Where to source calcium chloride (HS 2827.20)?

• China is the largest exporter, with the US, Netherlands, Mexico, Egypt also significant in 2023.

See calcium chloride exporters 2023. 

FAQ — 77% vs 94%?
77% flakes are common for de-icing and dust control; 94% pellets suit desiccation and industrial processing. Confirm assay and insolubles.

At-a-glance table (curated from 2023 trade data)

How do current trade trends affect origin choices?

• Sanctions: EU bans on Russian crude (Dec 2022) and petroleum products (Feb 2023) continue to reshape refined-product and base-oil flows into Europe; compliance checks are mandatory for 2710 goods. See EU petroleum products ban and OFAC price-cap guidance.

• Shipping: After 2024’s surge, container spot rates trended lower in 2025, but Red Sea routing remains a watch-item; build in lead-time for reroutes via the Cape when needed. See Red Sea disruptions 2025.

• Panama Canal: Water levels improved in 2025 versus the 2024 drought year, yet traffic has not fully normalized; check canal advisories for time-sensitive cargo. See Panama Canal update 2025 and FY2024 impact. 

Quick decision examples

• Road contractor (bitumen 60/70): Canada or Singapore supply with short QC cycle; route via Suez adds risk during Red Sea events—price in Cape routing contingency. oec.world+1

• Detergent plant (soda ash dense + caustic): US/Turkey soda ash plus China/India caustic offers cost balance; book multi-month contracts to smooth freight. wits.worldbank.org+1

• Drilling program (API bentonite + sulphonated asphalt): US/Turkey bentonite and APAC/North America sulphonated asphalt; tie to rig schedule and maintain safety stock. oec.world+1

Executive checklist (print and use)

• Define HS code + spec sheet for each item.

• Shortlist 3 exporting countries using current trade data (table above).

• Validate sanctions/price-cap exposure for 2710/2714 goods.

• Lock INCOTERMS (FOB/CIF/CFR) and route risk (Red Sea/Panama).

• Require third-party inspection (grade-specific tests).

• Negotiate laycan windows and demurrage terms.

• Set quality-variance bands tied to price adjustments.

• For base oils, confirm Group & viscosity vs finished-lube targets.

• For minerals, confirm moisture/particle size/brightness on COA.

• Pre-clear documents (MSDS/SDS, country-of-origin, certs of analysis).

Final Q&A

1. Who are the top exporters of bitumen right now?
   In 2023 by value: Canada, Singapore, Iraq, South Korea. 

2. Which country leads paraffin wax exports?
   China led 2023 exports (<0.75% oil) by a wide margin; Germany and the Netherlands followed. 

3. Where should I buy petroleum jelly for cosmetic use?
   India and Germany are leading exporters; request USP/BP compliance and batch COAs. 

4. Best sources of API-grade bentonite?
   The United States and Turkey dominate exports; verify API 13A swelling/yield.

5. Top soda ash suppliers for glass plants?
   United States and Turkey are top exporters (2023); both supply dense grade at scale. 

6. Who exports the most caustic soda (solid)?
   China ranks first, then India and the EU (2023).

7. Where to buy calcium chloride for de-icing?
   China leads, with the US, Netherlands, Mexico, Egypt notable. 

8. Which hubs are best for base oils (Group II/III)?
   Marquee hubs include South Korea, US Gulf, UAE/Saudi, Singapore, reflecting refined-product export strength.

9. Is “gilsonite” the same as asphaltite?
   “Gilsonite” is often used as a generic but technically refers to a specific uintaite/asphaltite resource in Utah. 

10. Do 2025 shipping conditions still affect delivery times?
    Yes. Red Sea security and Panama Canal throughput continue to influence schedules and rates; monitor advisories when booking. 

Sources

• OEC — Petroleum bitumen: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/petroleum-bitumen

• World Bank WITS — Paraffin wax, <0.75% oil (2023): https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/271220

• OEC — Petroleum jelly (HS 271210): https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/petroleum-jelly-5271210

• OEC — Bentonite: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/bentonite

• World Bank WITS — Calcium carbonate (2023): https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/283650

• OEC — Disodium carbonate (soda ash): https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/disodium-carbonate

• World Bank WITS — Caustic soda, solid (2023): https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Exports/partner/WLD/product/281511

• OEC — Calcium chloride: https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/calcium-chloride

• OEC — Refined petroleum (context for base-oil hubs): https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/refined-petroleum

• USGS — Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2025/mcs2025.pdf

• UNSD — HS 271490 classification: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Structure/Detail/EN/32/271490

• Utah Geological Survey — Gilsonite overview: https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/gilsonite-an-unusual-utah-resource/

• European Council — Sanctions on Russian oil and products: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions-against-russia-explained/

• U.S. Treasury OFAC — Price-cap guidance (Russian oil/products): https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/931036/download?inline=

• Reuters — Red Sea disruptions (context): https://www.reuters.com/business/maersk-says-red-sea-disruptions-could-last-into-second-half-2024-2024-02-27/

• Kuehne+Nagel (Lloyd’s List) — Panama Canal water update (2025): https://mykn.kuehne-nagel.com/news/article/panama-canal-has-plenty-of-water-10-jul-2025

• Seatrade Maritime — Panama Canal FY2024 impact: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/containers/panama-canal-transits-drop-29-fy2024