Industrial chemicals · HS 290243 · 202607
Paraxylene
- Japan 100.0%
- United States 0.0%
- China 0.0%
- Shipping origins observed
- 3
- Effective routes
- 1
- Observed through
- Korea
관측 신고국 1/2 — 커버리지 제한
Monthly brief — September 2026
Five supply chains moved this month.
When a country restricts an export or a refinery goes idle, it shows up in customs declarations months before anyone writes about it. We track 15 mineral and chemical inputs and report the flows that actually changed.
Coverage
Korea and US customs · 6 shipping origins observed · EU in progress
Customs data records the last country of shipment, not the mine or plant of origin. Refining and transshipment hubs can appear as top origins.
Specialty chemicals · HS 252921 · 202607
Fluorspar
- China 100.0%
- Shipping origins observed
- 1
- Effective routes
- 1
- Observed through
- Korea
관측 신고국 1/2 — 커버리지 제한
Specialty chemicals · HS 282520 · 202607
Lithium Hydroxide
- China 99.9%
- United States 0.1%
- Japan 0.0%
- Shipping origins observed
- 5
- Effective routes
- 1
- Observed through
- Korea
Dropped
Australia
관측 신고국 1/2 — 커버리지 제한
Strategic minerals · HS 850511 · 202607
Permanent Magnet
- China 96.5%
- Vietnam 2.8%
- Japan 0.3%
- Other origins 0.4%
- Shipping origins observed
- 6
- Effective routes
- 1.1
- Observed through
- Korea
관측 신고국 1/2 — 커버리지 제한
- Trade flows
- Korea Customs Service and US Census Bureau — ref. 2026-07
- Price benchmark
- World Bank Pink Sheet — ref. 2026-07
- News signal
- GDELT, worldwide — updated 2026-09-25
01
Herbicide
Korea Specialty chemicals · Export · HS 380893
Herbicide: Australia accounts for 54.9% of demand.
- Australia 20.5 → 54.9% +34.4pp
- Japan 20.4 → 34.1% +13.7pp
- Vietnam 1.2 → 10.6% +9.4pp
- United States 56.6 → 0.0% -56.6pp
- Other 1.3 → 0.4%
Vietnam 1.2% · Other 1.3%
Other 0.4%
Effective partners: 2.3 · Vietnam entered · United States exited
- Export volume
- -25%
- Unit cost vs market index
- -23pp
- Movement index
- 0.575
Price disadvantage
02
Rare Earth
Korea Strategic minerals · Import · HS 280530
Rare Earth: China accounts for 45.7% of supply.
- China 81.0 → 45.7% -35.3pp
- Vietnam 17.5 → 42.5% +25pp
- United States 1.3 → 11.6% +10.3pp
- Other 0.2 → 0.2%
United States 1.3% · Other 0.2%
Other 0.2%
Effective partners: 2.5 · United States entered
In the news
China
- Import volume
- ●●●
- Unit cost vs market index
- ●●●
- Movement index
- ●●●
Figures and 24-month history
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In line with market
The comparison is being prepared.
How to read this
MethodWhat moved
We compare the latest three months of trade against the three before it and rank inputs by how much the country mix changed. Small shifts do not make the brief.
You or the market
Unit costs are measured against the matching World Bank index, in percentage points. Rising with the market is normal. Rising while the market sits still is a finding.
What the data is
Customs records the last country of shipment, not the mine or plant of origin. Refining and transshipment hubs can appear as top origins, and we label them that way rather than calling them producers.
What we will not do
We do not estimate prices. Every figure traces to a customs declaration or a published index. Where the data is thin, we say so instead of filling the gap.
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